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Wood's  Natural  History 

A  PACK  OF  JACKALS  HUNTING  AT  NIGHT 


ILLUSTRATED 

NATURAL  HISTORY 


By  the 

Rev.  J.  G.  WOOD 


Arranged  for  Young  Readers 


PHILADELPHIA 

HENRY      ALTEMUS      COMPANY 


COPYRIGHT  1897 
BY  HENRY   ALTEMUS 


NATURAL  HISTORY. 


QUADRUMANA. 

This  section  includes  the  apes,  baboons  and  monkeys. 
The  name  Quadrumana  is  given  to  these  animals  because, 
in  addition  to  two  hands  like  those  of  man,  their  feet  are 
also  formed  like  hands,  and  are  capable  of  grasping  the 
branches  among  which  most  monkeys  pass  their  lives. 
Apes  are  placed  at  the  head  because  their  instinct  is  su- 
perior to  that  of  the  baboons  and  monkeys.  Baboons  are 
usually  sullen  and  ferocious  when  arrived  at  their  full 
growth,  and  monkeys  are  volatile  and  mischievous. 

The  first  in  order,  as  well  as  the  largest  of  the  apes,  is 
the  enormous  ape  from  Western  Africa,  the  Gorilla. 
The  first  writer  to  bring  the  Gorilla  before  the  notice  of 
the  public  seems  to  be  Mr.  Bowdich,  the  African  traveller; 
for  it  is  evidently  of  the  Gorilla  that  he  speaks  under  the 
name  of  Ingheena.  The  natives  of  the  Gaboon  and  its 
vicinity  use  the  name  Gina  when  mentioning  the  Gorilla. 
The  tales  told  of  the  habits,  the  gigantic  strength,  and  tbe 
general  appearance  of  the  Ingheena,  are  precisely  those 
which  are  attributed  to  the  Gorilla. 

Such  a  deed  as  the  capture  of  an  adult  Gorilla  has  never 
been  attempted,  much  less  achieved,  by  the  human  in- 
habitants of  the  same  land.  There  are  many  reasons  for 
this  circumstance.  In  the  first  place,  the  negroes,  seeing 
that  the  Gorilla  is  possessed  of  gigantic  strength,  conceive 
that  the  animal  must  be  inspirited  by  the  soul  of  one  of 
their  kings ;  for  in  the  lower  stages  of  man's  progress  he 

(7) 


8  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

does  honor  to  physical  force  alone,  and  values  his  ruler  in 
proportion  to  his  power,  brutality  and  heartlessness. 

The  task  of  capturing  a  living  and  full-grown  Gorilla  is 
well  calculated  to  appall  the  heart  of  any  man.  The 
strength,  the  activity  and  the  cunning  of  the  animal  are  so 
great,  that  the  uncivilized  Africans  may  well  be  excused 
for  their  dread  of  its  powers. 

The  outline  of  the  Gorilla's  face  is  most  brutal  in  char- 
acter, and  entirely  destroys  the  slight  resemblance  to  the 
human  countenance  which  the  full  form  exhibits.  As  in 
the  chimpanzee,  an  ape  which  is  placed  in  the  same  genus 
with  the  Gorilla,  the  color  of  the  hair  is  nearly  black ;  but 
in  some  lights,  and  during  the  life  of  the  animal,  it  assumes 
a  lighter  tinge  of  grayish  brown,  on  account  of  the  admix- 
ture of  variously  colored  hairs.  On  the  top  of  the  head, 
and  the  side  of  the  cheeks,  it  assumes  a  grizzly  hue.  The 
length  of  the  hair  is  not  very  great,  considering  the  size  of 
the  animal,  and  is  not  more  than  three  inches  in  length. 

As  to  the  habits  of  the  Gorilla,  many  conflicting  tales 
have  been  told.  In  order  to  settle  the  disputed  questions, 
Mr.  Winwoode  Reade  undertook  a  journey  to  Africa, 
where  he  remained  for  a  considerable  time.  After  careful 
investigation  he  sums  up  the  history  of  the  animal  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  The  ordinary  cry  of  the  Gorilla  is  of  a  plaintive  char- 
acter, but  in  rage  it  is  a  sharp,  hoarse  bark,  not  unlike  the 
roar  of  a  tiger.  The  negroes'  account  of  the  ape's  ferocity 
scarcely  bears  out  those  afforded  by  Drs.  Savage  and  Ford. 
They  deny  that  the  Gorilla  ever  attacks  man  without 
provocation.  '  Leave  Njina  alone,'  they  say,  '  and  Njina 
leave  you  alone.'  But  when  the  Gorilla,  surprised  while 
feeding  or  asleep,  is  suddenly  brought  to  bay,  he  goes 
round  in  a  kind  of  half-circle,  keeping  his  eyes  fixed  on 
the  man,  and  uttering  a  complaining,  uneasy  cry.  If  the 
hunter  shoots  at  him,  and  the  gun  misses  fire,  or  if  the 
ape  is  wounded,  he  will  sometimes  run  away ;  sometimes, 


Gorillas  at  Home. 


(9) 


10  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

however,  he  will  charge,  with  his  fierce  look,  his  lowered 
lip,  his  hair  falling  on  his  brow.  He  does  not,  however, 
appear  to  be  very  agile,  for  the  hunters  frequently  escape 
from  him. 

"  His  charge  is  made  on  all-fours  ;  he  seizes  the  offensive 
object,  and  dragging  it  into  his  mouth,  bites  it.  The  story 
of  his  crushing  a  musket-barrel  between  his  teeth  is  gen- 
eral, and  a  French  officer  told  me  that  a  gun  was  exhibited 
at  the  French  settlements  in  the  Gaboon,  twisted  '  comme 
une  papillote.'  I  heard  a  great  deal  about  men  being  killed 
by  Gorillas,  but  wherever  I  went  I  found  that  the  story 
retreated  to  tradition.  That  a  man  might  be  killed  by  a 
Gorilla  I  do  not  affect  to  doubt  for  a  moment,  but  that  a 
man  has  not  been  killed  by  one  within  the  memory  of  the 
living  I  can  most  firmly  assert. 

"  I  once  saw  a  man  who  had  been  wounded  by  a  Gorilla. 
It  was  a  Mohaga  hunter,  who  piloted  me  in  the  forests  of 
Ngumbi.  His  left  hand  was  completelv  crippled,  and  the 
marks  of  teeth  were  visible  on  the  wrist.  I  asked  him  to 
show  me  exactly  how  the  Gorilla  attacked  him.  I  was  to 
be  the  hunter,  he  the  Gorilla.  I  pretended  to  shoot  at 
him.  He  rushed  towards  me  on  all-fours,  and  seizing  my 
wrist  with  one  of  his  hands,  dragged  it  to  his  mouth,  bit 
it,  and  then  made  off.  So,  he  said,  the  Njina  had  done  to 
him.  It  is  by  these  simple  tests  that  one  can  best  arrive 
at  truth  among  the  negroes.  That  which  I  can  attest  from 
my  own  personal  experience  in  my  unsuccessful  attempts 
to  shoot  a  Gorilla  is  as  follows  :  I  have  seen  the  nests  of 
the  Gorillas.  I  cannot  say  positively  whether  they  are 
used  as  beds,  or  only  as  lying-in  couches.  I  have  repeat- 
edly seen  the  tracks  of  the  Gorillas,  and  could  tell  by  the 
tracks  that  the  Gorilla  goes  habitually  on  all-fours. 

"  I  have  never  seen  the  tracks  of  so  many  as  two  Gorillas 
in  company.  I  have  seen  a  young  Gorilla  and  a  young 
chimpanzee  in  a  domestic  state.  They  were  equally  do- 
cile.   I  have  seen  the  dung  of  the  Gorilla,  which  resembles 


GORILLA. 


11 


that  of  a  man ;  and  I  can  say  positively  that  the  Gorilla 
sometimes  runs  away  from  man,  for  I  have  been  near 
enough  to  hear  one  run  away  from  me.  I  heard  that 
sometimes  a  family  of  Gorillas  will  ascend  a  tree  and  will 


Chimpanzee. 


eat  a  certain  fruit  till  they  become  gorged,  like  turkey- 
buzzards.  The  old  father  remains  seated  at  the  foot  of 
the  tree.  If  you  can  approach  close  enough  to  shoot  him, 
you  may  then  kill  the  rest  of  the  family  at  your  ease. 


12  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

A  full-grown  male  gorilla,  standing  perfectly  upright,  will 
measure  more  than  six  feet  in  height.  As  in  the  chimpan- 
zee, there  are  distinct  eyebrows  on  the  forehead  and  lashes 
to  the  lids  of  the  eyes.  The  neck  is  short,  the  forehead  re- 
treating, the  nose  flat,  the  arms  very  long  and  strong,  the 
jaws  enormous  with  large  canine  teeth.  The  body  is  cover- 
ed with  iron-gray  hair,  while  the  hair  on  the  head  is  red- 
dish. Its  favorite  food  is  the  wild  sugar-cane  and  nuts. 
When  attacked  by  hunters,  it  beats  its  breast  with  its  huge 
paws,  gives  terrible  roars,  and  if  not  fatally  wounded  at 
once,  flings  itself  on  the  hunter,  crushing  him. 

The  Chimpanzee  is  a  native  of  Western  Africa.  Large 
bands  congregate  together  and  unite  in  repelling  an  in- 
vader, which  they  do  with  sucli  fury  and  courage  that 
even  the  elephant  and  lion  are  driven  from  their  haunts 
by  their  united  efforts.  They  live  principally  on  the 
ground,  and  spend  much  of  their  time  in  caves  and  under 
rocks.  Their  height  is  from  four  to  five  feet.  They  do 
not  reach  this  growth  until  ten  years  of  age. 

Several  young  Chimpanzees  that  have  been  captured 
have  shown  themselves  verj'  docile  and  gentle. 

The  Orang-outan  inhabits  Borneo  and  Sumatra.  This 
is  the  largest  of  all  the  apes,  as  it  is  said  they  have  been 
obtained  above  five  feet  in  height.  The  strength  of  this 
animal  is  tremendous.  Its  arms  are  of  extraordinary 
length,  the  hands  reaching  the  ground  when  it  stands 
erect.  This  length  of  arm  is  admirably  adapted  for  climb- 
ing trees,  on  which  it  principally  resides.  The  following 
account  is  given  of  the  Orangs  of  Borneo  : 

"  The  Orangs  are  dull  and  slothful,  and  on  no  occasion, 
when  pursuing  them,  did  they  move  so  fast  as  to  preclude 
my  keeping  pace  with  them  easily  enough  through  a 
moderately  clear  forest ;  and  even  Avhen  obstructions  be- 
low (such  as  wading  up  to  the  neck)  allowed  them  to  get 
away  some  distance,  they  were  sure  to  stop  and  allow  us 
to  come  up.     I  never  observed  any  attempt  at  defense: 


Orangs  in  their  Native  Woods. 


(13  ^ 


14  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

and  the  wood,  which  rattled  about  our  ears,  was  broken 
by  their  weight,  and  not  thrown,  as  some  persons  repre- 
sent. If  pushed  to  extremity,  however,  they  are  formida- 
ble ;  and  one  unfortunate  man,  who  was  trying  to  catch 
one  alive,  lost  two  of  his  fingers,  besides  being  severely 
bitten  on  the  face,  while  the  animal  finally  beat  off  his 
pursuers  and  escaped.  When  they  wish  to  catch  an  adult 
they  cut  down  a  circle  of  trees  round  the  one  on  which  he 
is  seated,  and  then  fell  that  also,  and  close  before  he  can 
recover  himself,  and  endeavor  to  bind  him. 

"  The  rude  hut  which  they  build  in  the  trees  would  be 
more  properly  called  a  seat,  or  nest,  for  it  has  no  roof  or 
cover  of  any  sort.  The  facility  with  which  they  form  this 
seat  is  curious.  I  saw  a  wounded  female  weave  the 
branches  together  and  seat  herself  in  a  minute.  She 
afterwards  received  our  fire  without  moving,  and  expired 
in  her  lofty  abode,  whence  it  cost  us  much  trouble  to  dis- 
lodge her." 

The  great  difference  between  the  kassar  and  the  pappan 
(as  the  natives  name  them)  in  size  proves  the  distinction 
of  the  two  species ;  the  kassar  being  a  small  slight  animal, 
by  no  means  formidable  in  his  appearance,  with  hands 
and  feet  proportioned  to  the  body,  and  they  do  not  ap- 
proach the  gigantic  extremities  of  the  pappan  either  in 
size  or  power ;  a  moderately  strong  man  would  readily 
overpower  one,  when  he  would  not  stand  a  chance  with 
the  pappan. 

I  saw  a  young  Orang.  It  had  a  very  small  and  very 
rotund  body,  to  which  were*  affixed  very  long  and  slender 
limbs.  Its  face  was  like  that  of  an  old  miser,  thoroughly 
wearied  of  life,  and  contemplating  surrounding  objects 
with  a  calm  but  derisive  pity. 

It  possessed  in  a  high  degree  the  expressive  mobile 
character  of  the  lips,  which  appeared  to  express  its  feel- 
ings much  in  the  same  manner  as  do  the  ears  of  a  horse. 
When  it  was  alarmed  or  astonished  at  any  object  it  was 


KAHAU.  16 

accustomed  to  shoot  out  both  its  lips,  and  to  form  its 
mouth  into  a  trumpet  kind  of  shape.  A  snail  would  make 
him  produce  this  contortion  of  countenance. 

The  creature  was  very  tame,  and  delighted  in  walking 
about  the  garden  leaning  on  the  arm  of  its  keeper,  and  if 
any  lady  would  venture  to  be  its  guide,  it  appeared 
exceedingly  happy. 

When  young  the  Orang  is  very  docile,  and  has  been 
taught  to  make  its  own  bed,  and  to  handle  a  cup  and 
saucer,  or  a  spoon,  with  tolerable  propriety.  It  not  only 
laid  its  own  bedclothes  smooth  and  comfortable,  but  ex- 
hibited much  ingenuity  in  stealing  blankets  from  other 
beds,  which  it  added  to  its  own.  A  young  Orang  evinced 
extreme  horror  at  the  sight  of  a  small  tortoise,  and,  when 
the  reptile  was  placed  in  its  den,  stood  aghast  in  a  terri- 
fied attitude,  with  its  eyes  intently  fixed  on  the  frightful 
object. 

The  Agile  Gibbon  is  a  .native  of  Sumatra.  It  derives 
its  name  of  Agile  from  the  wonderful  activity  it  displays 
in  launching  itself  through  the  air  from  branch  to  branch. 
One  of  these  creatures  sprang  with  the  greatest  ease 
through  a  distance  of  eighteen  feet;  and  when  apples  or 
nuts  were  thrown  to  her  while  in  the  air,  she  would  catch 
them  without  discontinuing  her  course.  She  kept  up  a 
succession  of  springs,  hardly  touching  the  branches  in  her 
progress,  continually  uttering  a  musical  but  almost  deaf- 
ening cry,  She  was  very  tame  and  gentle,  and  would 
permit  herself  to  be  caressed.  The  height  of  the  Gibbon 
is  about  three  feet,  and  the  reach  of  the  extended  arms 
about  six  feet.     There  are  several  species  of  Gibbon. 

The  Kahau,  a  native  of  Borneo,  derives  its  name  from 
the  cry  it  utters,  which  is  a  repetition  of  the  word 
"  Kahau."  It  is  remarkable  for  the  size  and  shape  of  its 
nose,  and  while  leaping  it  holds  that  organ  with  its  paws, 
apparently  to  guard  it  against  the  branches. 

Its  length,  from  the  head  to  the  tip  of  the  tail,  is  a  little 


lb  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

over  four  feet,  and  its  general  color  is  a  sandy  red,  relieved 
by  yellow  cheeks  and  a  yellow  stripe  over  the  shoulders. 

Baboons  are  distinguished  from  the  apes  by  their  short 
tails.  The  Mandrill,  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  tribe, 
is  a  native  of  Guinea  and  Western  Africa,  and  is  chiefly 
remarkable  for  the  vivid  colors  with  which  it  is  adorned. 
Its  checks  are  of  a  brilliant  blue,  its  muzzle  of  a  bright 
scarlet,  and  a  stripe  of  crimson  runs  along  the  center  of 
its  nose.  These  colors  are  agreeably  contrasted  by  the 
purple  hues  of  the  hinder  quarters.  It  lives  in  forests 
tilled  with  brushwood,  from  which  it  makes  incursions 
into  the  nearest  villages,  plundering  them  with  impunity. 
On  this  account  it  is  much  dreaded  by  the  natives,  who 
feel  themselves  incapable  of  resisting  its  attacks.  It  is 
excessively  ferocious,  and  easily  excited  to  anger. 

The  greenish-brown  color  of  the  hair  of  this  and  other 
monkeys  is  caused  by  the  alternate  bands  of  yellow  and 
black,  which  exist  on  each  hair.-  The  brilliant  colors  re- 
ferred to  above  belong  to  the  skin,  and  fade  away  entirely 
after  death,  becoming  paler  when  the  animal  is  not  in 
perfect  health. 

The  American  Monkeys  are  found  exclusively  in  South 
America,  and  are  never  seen  north  of  Panama.  Their 
tails  are  invariably  long,  and,  in  some  genera,  prehensile. 

The  Coaita  is  one  of  the  Spider  Monkeys,  so  called 
from  their  long,  slender  limbs,  and  their  method  of  pro- 
gressing among  the  branches.  The  tail  seems  to  answer 
the  purpose  of  a  fifth  hand,  as  it  is  capable  of  being  used 
for  every  purpose  to  which  the  hand  could  be  applied; 
indeed,  the  Spider  Monkeys  are  said  to  use  this  member 
for  hooking  out  objects  where  a  hand  could  not  be  in- 
serted. The  tail  is  of  use  in  climbing  among  the  branches 
of  trees :  they  coil  it  round  the  boughs  to  lower  or  raise 
themselves,  and  often  will  suspend  themselves  entirely  by 
it,  and  then  by  a  more  powerful  impetus  swing  off'  to 
some  distant  branch.     The  habits  of  all  the  Spider  Mon- 


UOAITA. 


17 


fceys  are  very  similar.  They  are  sensitive  to  cold,  and 
when  chilly  wrap  their  tails  about  them,  so  that  this  useful 
organ  answers  the  purpose  of  a  boa  as  well  as  a  hand. 


■m 


Baboox. 


They  will  also,  when  shot,  fasten  their  tails  so  firmly  on 
the  branches  that  they  remain  suspended  after  death.  The 
great  length  of  their  tails  enables  them  to  walk  in  the  erect 
attitude  better  than  most  monkeys.  In  walking  they  cast 
their  tails  upwards  as  high  as  the  shoulders,  and  then 


18  NATURAL  HISTORY 

bend  them  over  so  as  to  form  a  counterbalance  against  the 
weight  of  the  body,  which  is  thrown  very  much  forward 
in  that  and  most  other  monkeys.  The  senus  is  called 
Ateles,  or  imperfect,  because  in  most  of  the  species  the 
thumb  is  wanting.  The  Coaita  inhabits  Surinam  and 
Guinea. 

The  Howling  Monkeys  are  larger  and  not  so  agile  as- 
the  Spider  Monkeys,  and  are  chiefly  remarkable  for  the 
peculiarity  from  which  they  derive  their  name.  They 
possess  an  enlargement  in  the  throat,  composed  of  several 
valvular  pouches,  which  apparatus  renders  their  cry  loud 
and  mournful.  They  howl  in  concert  at  the  rising  and 
setting  of  the  sun;  one  monkey  begins  the  cry,  which  is 
taken  up  by  the  rest,  precisely  as  may  be  observed  in 
a  colony  of  rooks.  They  are  in  great  request  among  the 
natives  as  articles  of  food,  their  slow  habits  rendering 
them  an  easy  prey. 

The  Ursine  Howler  is  common  in  Brazil,  where  fifty 
have  been  seen  on  one  tree.  They  travel  in  files,  an  old 
monkey  taking  the  lead,  and  the  others  following  in  due 
order.  They  feed  principally  on  leaves  and  fruit ;  the 
tail -is  prehensile. 

The  Marmoset  is  a  most  interesting  little  creature.  It 
is  very  sensitive  to  cold,  and  when  in  America  is  usually 
occupied  in  nestling  among  the  materials  for  its  bed, 
which  it  heaps  up  in  one  corner,  and  out  of  which  it  sel- 
dom entirely  emerges.  It  will  eat  almost  any  article  of 
food,  but  is  fond  of  insects.  It  will  also  eat  fruits.  Its 
fondness  for  insects  has  been  carried  so  far,  that  it  has  been 
known  to  pinch  out  the  figures  of  beetles  in  entomological 
work,  and  swallow  them. 

This  little  Monkey  is  also  called  the  Ouistiti,  from  its 
peculiar  whistling  cry  when  alarmed  or  provoked. 

The  Lemurs  derive  their  name  from  their  nocturnal 
habits  and  their  noiseless  movements.  The  Ruffled  Le- 
mur is  a  native  of  Madagascar.     It  lives  in  the  depths  of 


BLENDER  LOEIS. 


19 


the  forests,  and  only  moves  by  night,  the  entire  day  being 
spent  in  sleep.     Its  food  consists  of  fruits,  insects  and 


Marmosets. 


email  birds,  which  latter  it  takes  while  they  are  sleeping. 
This  is  the  largest  of  the  Lemurs,  being  rather  larger  than 
a  cat. 

The  Slender  Loris  is  a  native  of  India,  Ceylon,  etc. 


Ai  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

Like  the  Lemur,  it  seldom  moves  by  day,  but  prowla 
about  at  night  in  search  of  food.  No  sooner  does  it  spy  a% 
sleeping  bird  than  it  slowly  advances  until  within  reach  , 
then  putting  forward  its  paw  with  a  motion  slow  and  im- 
perceptible as  the  movement  of  the  shadow  on  the  dial,  i;> 
gradually  places  its  fingers  over  the  devoted  bird  ;  then, 
with  a  movement  swifter  than  the  eye  can  follow,  it  seizes 
its  startled  prey. 

BATS:  WING-HANDED  ANIMALS. 

"We  now  arrive  at  the  Bats.  The  usual  food  of  Bats  is 
insects,  which  they  mostly  capture  on  the  wing,  but  some, 
as  the  Vampires,  suck  blood  from  other  animals,  and  a 
few,  as  the  Kalong,  or  Ftying  Fox,  live  upon  fruits,  and  so 
devastate  the  mango  crops  that  the  natives  are  forced  to 
cover  them  with  bamboo  baskets.  Even  the  cocoa-nut  is 
not  secure  from  their  depredations. 

The  membrane  of  the  Bat's  wing  is  plentifully  supplied 
with  nerves,  and  is  extremely  sensitive,  almost  appearing 
to  supply  a  sense  independent  of  sight.  Many  Bats  pos- 
sess a  similar  membrane  on  the  nose,  which  is  possibly 
used  for  the  same  purpose. 

The  object  of  the  elongation  of  the  finger-joints  is  to 
give  the  animal  the  power  of  extending  the  wing  mem- 
brane or  folding  it  at  pleasure.  The  thumb-joint  has  no 
part  of  the  wing  attached  to  it,  but  is  left  free,  and  is 
armed  with  a  hook  at  the  extremity,  by  means  of  which  it 
is  enabled  to  drag  itself  along  in  that  singular  vacillating 
hobble  which  constitutes  a  Bat's  walk. 

There  are  five  sub-families  of  Bats,  according  to  Gray, 
each  tribe  including  many  genera.  The  British  Museum 
alone  possesses  eighty  genera. 

The  Vampire  Bat  is  a  native  of  South  America,  where 
it  is  very  common,  and  held  in  some  dread.  It  lives  on 
the  blood  of  animals,  and  sucks  usually  while  its  victim 


21 


sleeps.  The  extremities,  where,  the  blood  flows  freely,  as 
the  toe  of  a  man,  the  ears  of  a  horse,  or  the  combs  and 
wattles  of  fowls,  are  its  favorite  spots.  When  it  has  selected 


ifMfi 


':■  '■■         ;      ■.      '"  ■■;■■'■ 


a  subject  on  which  it  intends  to  feed,  it  watches  until 
the  animal  is  fairly  asleep.  It  then  carefully  fans  its  vic- 
tim with  its  wings  while  it  bites  a  little  hole  in  the  ear  or 

a — Natural  History 


22  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

shoulder,  and  through  this  small  aperture,  into  which  a 
pin's  head  would  scarcely  pass,  it  contrives  to  abstract  suf- 
ficient blood  to  make  a  very  ample  meal.  The  wound  is 
so  small,  and  the  Bat  manages  so  adroitly,  that  the  victim 
does  not  discover  that  anything  has  happened  until  the 
morning,  when  blood  betrays  the  visit  of  the  Vampire. 

The  wound  made  by  the  bat's  teeth  is  no  larger  than 
that  made  by  a  needle,  and  hardly  penetrates  the  skin,  so 
that  the  blood  must  be  extracted  by  suction.  There  have 
been  very  different  accounts  of  the  Vampires  from  travel- 
ers, some  denying  that  they  suck  blood  at  all,  and  others 
narrating  circumstantially  the  injuries  inflicted  upon  their 
own  persons.  The  cause  for  these  discrepancies  is  due  to 
the  constitution  of  the  narrators,  there  being  some  persons 
whom  a  Vampire  will  not  touch,  while  others  are  con- 
stantly victimized.     The  length  of  its  body  is  six  inches. 

The  Long-eared  Bat  is  found  in  most  parts  of  Europe. 
It  may  be  seen  any  warm  evening  flying  about  in  search 
of  insects,  and  uttering  its  peculiar  shrill  cry.  The  ears 
are  about  an  inch  and  a  half  in  length,  and  have  a  fold  in 
them  reaching  almost  to  the  lips. 

This  Bat  is  very  easily  tamed,  and  will  take  flies  and 
other  insects  from  the  hand. 

When  the  Long-eared  Bat  is  suspended  by  its  hinder 
claws,  it  assumes  a  most  singular  aspect.  The  beautiful 
long  ears  are  tucked  under  its  wings,  which  envelop  great 
part  of  its  body.  The  tragus,  or  pointed  membrane  visi- 
ble inside  the  ear,  is  then  exposed,  and  appears  to  be  the 
actual  ear  itself,  giving  the  creature  a  totally  different  cast 
of  character. 

QUADRUPEDS. 

The  former  sections  have  been  characterized  by  the 
number  and  properties  of  the  hands.  In  this  section  the 
hands  have  been  modified  into  feet.  At  the  head  of  the 
quadrupeds,  or  four-footed  animals,  are  placed  the  car- 


LION.  2li 

nivora,  or  flesh-eaters,  and  at  the  head  of  the  carnivora, 
the  Felida?,  or  cat  kind  are  placed,  as  being  the  most  per- 
fect and  beautiful  in  that  section.  The  Felidse  all  take 
their  prey  by  creeping  as  near  as  they  can  without  obser- 
vation, and  then  springing  upon  their  victim,  which  sel- 
dom succeeds  in  making  its  escape,  as  the  powerful  claws 
and  teeth  of  its  enemy  usually  dash  it  insensible  to  the 
ground.  The  jaws  of  the  Felidse  are  powerful,  and  their 
teeth  long  and  sharp.  Their  claws  are  necessarily  very 
long,  curved  and  sharp,  and  to  prevent  them  from  being 
injured  by  coming  into  contact  with  the  ground  they  are 
retracted,  when  not  in  use,  into  a  sheath,  which  guards 
them  and  keeps  them  sharp.  There  are  five  claws  on  the 
fore-feet,  and  four  on  the  hinder  feet.  The  tongue  is  very 
rough,  as  may  be  proved  by  feeling  the  tongue  of  a  cat. 
This  roughness  is  occasioned  by  innumerable  little  hooks 
which  cover  the  tongue,  point  backwards,  and  are  used 
for  the  purpose  of  licking  the  flesh  off  the  bones  of  their 
prey.  The  bristles  of  the  mouth  or  whiskers  are  each 
connected  with  a  large  nerve,  and  are  useful  in  indicating 
an  obstacle  when  the  animal  prowls  by  night.  Their  eyes 
are  adapted  for  nocturnal  vision  by  the  dilating  power  of 
the  pupil,  which  expands  so  as  to  take  in  every  ray  of 
light. 

The  Lion  stands  at  the  head  of  the  wild  beasts.  His 
noble  and  dignified  bearing,  the  terrific  power  compressed 
into  his  comparatively  small  frame,  and  the  deep  majesty 
of  his  voice,  have  gained  for  him  the  name  of  "  king  of 
beasts."  The  Lion  inhabits  Africa  and  certain  parts  of 
Arabia  and  Persia,  and  some  parts  of  India.  It  varies  in 
appearance  according  to  the  locality,  but  there  is  little 
doubt  that  there  is  but  one  species. 

The  roar  of  the  Lion  is  one  of  its  chief  peculiarities ,  the 
best  description  of  it  is  in  Gordon  Cumming's  Adventures: 

"One  of  the  most  striking  things  connected  with  the 
Lion  is  his  voice,  which  is  extremely  grand  and  peculiarly 


24  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

striking.  It  consists,  at  times,  of  a  low,  deep  moaning, 
repeated  five  or  six  times,  ending  in  faintly-audible  sighs; 
at  other  times  he  startles  the  forest  with  loud,  deep-toned, 
solemn  roars,  repeated  five  or  six  times  in  quick  succession, 
each  increasing  in  loudness  to  the  third  or  fourth,  when 
his  voice  dies  away  in  five  or  six  low,  muffled  sounds,  very 
much  resembling  distant  thunder.  At  times  a  troop  may 
be  heard  roaring  in  concert,  one  assuming  the  lead,  and 
two,  three,  or  four  more  regularly  taking  up  their  parts, 
like  persons  singing  a  catch." 

The  opinion  that  Lions  will  not  touch  a  dead  animal  its 
erroneous,  as  they  were  frequently  shot  by  Gordon  Cum- 
ming  while  devouring  gnoos,  etc.,  that  had  fallen  by  his 
rifle.  Lions  who  have  once  tasted  human  flesh  are  most 
to  be  dreaded,  as  they  will  even  venture  to  spring  in 
among  a  company  of  men  and  seize  their  victim.  They 
are  called  Man-eaters. 

The  Lioness  is  much  smaller  than  the  Lion,  and  is  desti- 
tute of  the  mane  which  is  so  great  an  ornament  to  her 
mate.  As  a  rule  she  is  more  fierce  and  active  than  the 
male,  especially  before  she  has  had  cubs,  or  while  she  is 
suckling  them.  She  has  usually  from  two  to  four  cubs  at 
a  time.  They  are  beautiful,  playful  little  things,  and  are 
slightly  striped.  They  have  no  mane  until  about  two 
years- old.  While  her  cubs  are  small  the  Lioness  knows 
no  fear,  and  will  attack  a  company  of  men,  or  a  herd  of 
oxen,  if  they  come  too  near  her  den.  The  cubs  are  re- 
markably heavy  for  their  age. 

The  Lion  when  young  is  easily  tamed,  and  shows  an 
attachment  to  its  keeper.  Those  who  have  visited  men- 
ageries will  know  what  influence  man  may  obtain  over 
this  powerful  creature. 

There  is  one  remarkable  difference  in  the  characters  of 
the  feline  and  canine  tribes.  If  a  man  is  overcome  by  a 
wolf  or  dog,  the  animal  mangles  its  foe  until  life  is  extinct. 
A  do?  killing  a  rat  is  a  good  instance  of  this  trait  of  char- 


Lion  and  Lioness. 


(25) 


26  NATURAL  HISTORY* 

acter.  But  if  a  lion  or  any  other  feline  animal  vanquishes 
a  man  it  contents  itself  with  the  victory  for  some  time 
without  making  any  attempt  to  injure  him,  unless  he  tries 
to  escape,  in  which  case  he  is  again  dashed  to  the  earth, 
and  probably  bitten  as  a  warning.  A  cats  treats  a  mouse 
as  a  lion  treats  a  man. 

This  propensity  in  the  Lion  has  been  the  cause  of  saving 
many  lives,  the  men  having  been  able  either  to  destroy 
their  foe  by  cautiously  getting  out  a  weapon,  or  by  lying 
still  until  they  were  succored. 

At  the  extremity  of  the  Lion's  tail  there  is  a  small  hook 
or  claw,  which  has  been  represented  as  the  means  by  which 
the  animal  lashes  itself  into  fury,  using  it  as  a  spur.  This 
is  impossible,  as  the  claw  or  prickle  is  very  small,  not  fixed 
to  the  bone  as  the  claws  of  the  feet  are,  but  merely  attached 
to  the  skin,  and  falls  off  if  roughly  handled.  It  is  not 
present  in  all  lions. 

The  Tiger  is  a  magnificent  animal,  found  only  in  Asia, 
Hindostan  being  the  part  most  infested  by  it.  In  size  it  is 
almost  equal  to  the  Lion,  its  height  being  nearly  four  feet, 
and  its  length  rather  more  than  eight  feet.  It  has  no  mane, 
but  is  decorated  with  black  stripes,  upon  a  ground  of  red- 
dish-yellow fur,  which  becomes  almost  white  on  the  under 
parts  of  the  body.  The  chase  of  the  Tiger  is  a  favorite 
sport  in  India.  The  hunters  assemble,  mounted  on  ele- 
phants trained  to  the  sport,  and  carry  with  them  a  supply 
of  loaded  rifles  in  their  carriages  mounted  on  the  elephants 
backs.  Thus  armed,  they  proceed  to  the  spot  where  a 
tiger  has  been  seen.  The  animal  is  usually  found  hidden 
in  the  long  grass  or  jungle,  which  is  frequently  eight  or 
more  feet  in  height,  and  when  roused  it  endeavors  to  creep 
away  under  the  grass.  The  movement  of  the  leaves  betrays 
him,  and  he  is  checked  by  a  rifle-ball  aimed  at  him  through 
the  jungle.  Finding  that  he  cannot  escape  without  being 
seen,  he  turns  round  and  springs  at  the  nearest  elephant, 
mdeavoring  to  clamber  up  it  and  attack  the  party.     This 


■Hip 


Lv/fi  fit? 


■■■■■'•  .■    .'■■.', 


In 


■    '  , 


28  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

is  the  dangerous  part  of  the  proceedings,  as  many  ele- 
phants will  turn  round  and  run  away,  despite  the  efforts 
of  their  drivers  to  make  them  face  the  Tiger.  Should  the 
elephant  stand  firm  a  well-directed  ball  checks  the  tiger 
in  his  spring,  and  he  then  endeavors  again  to  escape,  but 
a  volley  of  rifle-balls  from  the  backs  of  the  other  elephants, 
who  by  this  time  have  come  up,  lays  the  savage  animal 
prostrate,  and  in  a  very  short  time  his  skin  decorates  the 
successful  marksman's  carriage. 

Tigers  are  usually  taken  in  pitfalls  at  the  bottom  ot 
which  is  planted  a  bamboo  stake,  the  top  of  which  is 
sharpened  into  a  point.  The  animal  falls  on  the  point, 
and  is  impaled.  Tigers  can  be  tamed  as  easily  as  the 
lion ;  but  great  caution  must  be  used  with  all  wild  ani- 
mals, as  in  a  moment  of  irritation  their  savage  nature 
breaks  out,  and  the  consequences  have  more  than  once 
proved  fatal. 

The  coloring  of  the  tiger  is  a  good  instance  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  animals  are  protected  by  the  similarity  of 
their  external  appearance  to  the  particular  locality  in 
which  they  reside.  The  stripes  on  the  tiger's  skin  so 
exactly  resemble  the  long  jungle-grass  among  which  it 
lives  that  it  is  impossible  for  unpracticed  eyes  to  discern 
the  animal  at  all,  even  when  the  body  is  exposed. 

The  Leopard  is  an  inhabitant  of  Africa,  India  and  the 
Indian  Islands.  A  black  variety  inhabits  Java,  and  is  not 
uncommon  there.  Its  height  is  about  two  feet.  This  and 
the  following  FelidaB  are  accustomed  to  live  much  on  trees, 
and  are  on  that  account  called  Tree-tigers  by  the  natives. 
Nothing  can  be  more  beautiful  than  the  elegant  and  active 
manner  in  which  the  Leopards  sport  among  the  branches 
of  the  trees :  at  one  time  they  will  bound  from  branch  to 
branch  with  such  rapidity  that  the  eye  can  scarcely  follow 
them  ;  then,  as  if  tired,  they  will  suddenly  stretch  them- 
selves along  a  branch,  so  as  to  be  hardly  distinguishable 
from  the  bark,  but  start  up  again  on  the  slightest  provoca- 


30  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

tion,  and  again  resume  their  graceful  antics.  It  is  easily 
tamed,  and  expresses  great  fondness  for  its  keeper,  and 
will  play  with  him  like  a  cat. 

It  is  fond  of  some  scents,  especially  preferring  lavender 
water,  by  means  of  which  predilection  it  has  been  taught 
to  perform  several  tricks. 

The  Leopard  and  Panther  are  considered  as  the  same 
animal. 

The  Jaguar  inhabits  America.  It  is  larger  and  more 
powerful  than  the  leopard,  which  it  resembles  in  color, 
but  has  a  black  streak  across  the  chest,  and  a  black  spot 
in  the  center  of  the  rosettes.  It  is  fond  of  climbing  trees, 
and  finds  little  difficulty  in  ascending,  even  when  the 
trunk  is  smooth  and  destitute  of  branches.  It  chases 
monkeys  successfully,  and  is  said  to  watch  for  turtles  on 
the  beach,  and  to  scoop  out  their  flesh  by  turning  them  on 
their  backs  and  inserting  its  paws  between  the  shells. 
Nor  does  it  confine  its  attention  to  the  turtles  themselves, 
for  it  watches  them  lay  their  eggs  and  then  scoops  them 
out  of  the  sand  with  its  claws.  It  makes  havoc  among 
the  sheepfolds,  and  is  said  to  depart  so  far  from  the  usual 
habits  of  the  Felida?  as  to  enter  the  water  after  fish,  and  to 
capture  them  in  the  shallows  by  striking  them  out  of  the 
water  with  a  blow  of  its  paw.  The  domestic  cat  has  been 
seen  to  act  in  the  same  manner. 

When  it  captures  one  of  the  larger  animals  it  destroys 
it  by  leaping  upon  its  back  and  twisting  the  head  of  its 
prey  round  until  the  neck  is  dislocated. 

The  Puma  is  found  throughout  South  America  and  a 
great  part  of  North  America.  It  is  known  in  Spanish 
American  countries  as  the  American  lion,  and  in  the 
United  States  as  the  catamount  or  wild-cat,  and  vulgarly 
as  "painter"  (a  corruption  of  "panther").  The  adult 
male  is  about  five  feet  long,  has  a  thick  fur,  brown  above 
and  grayish-white  beneath,  with  the  ears  and  tail  nearly 
black,  and  sometimes  partially  striped  along  the  sides.  It 


PUMA. 


31 


climbs  trees  and  usually  lies  along  the  branches,  where 
its  uniform  dusky  fur  renders  it  so  like  the  bark  that  it 
can  scarcely  be  distinguished  from  the  branch.     It  lives 


The  Puma. 

chiefly  upon  deer,  and  has  a  shrill  scream ;  is  cowardly, 
and  does  not  voluntarily  attack  man,  but  makes  a  desper- 
ate resistance  to  the  hunter.  It  is  easily  tamed,  and  be- 
comes ouite  docile 


32  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

The  Ocelot,  one  of  the  Tiger-cats,  is  a  native  of  Mexico 
and  Peru.  Its  height  is  about  eighteen  inches,  and  its 
length  about  three  feet.  It  is  a  beautiful  animal,  and 
easily  tamed.  When  in  a  wild  state  it  lives  principally 
on  monkeys,  which  it  takes  by  stratagem. 

The  domestic  Cat  was  formerly  supposed  to  be  the  same 
animal  as  the  Wild  Cat,  but  it  is  now  proved  to  be  a  dis- 
tinct species,  and  the  difference  is  seen  at  once  by  the 
form  of  the  tail.  That  of  the  domestic  Cat  is  long  and 
taper,  while  that  of  the  wild  cat  is  bushy  and  short. 
'  The  Cat  is  known  to  us  as  a  persevering  mouse-hunter. 
So  strong  is  the  passion  for  hunting  in  the  breast  of  the 
Cat  that  she  has  been  known  to  chase  hares. 

This  instinctive  desire  of  hunting  seems  to  be  implanted 
in  cats  at  a  very  early  age.  I  have  seen  kittens,  but  just 
able  to  see,  bristle  up  at  the  touch  of  a  mouse,  and  growl 
in  a  terrific  manner  if  disturbed. 

The  Cat  displays  great  affection  for  her  kittens,  and  her 
pride  when  they  first  run  about  is  amusing. 

Cats  are  very  fond  of  aromatic  plants.  My  own  cat  has 
just  been  discovered  in  the  act  of  eating  the  green  tops  of 
a  musk-plant  that  was  standing  in  the  window.  Valerian 
appears  to  be  the  great  attraction  for  cats,  and  where  it  is 
planted  cats  will  come  in  numbers,  roll  over  it,  and  scratch 
up  the  plant  until  there  is  not  a  vestige  of  it  left. 

There  are  several  varieties  of  the  domestic  cat,  among 
which  the  Angora  Cats,  with  their  beautiful  long  fur,  and 
the  Manx  Cats,  which  have  no  tails,  are  the  most  con- 
spicuous. 

The  Lynxes  are  remarkable  for  the  pencil  of  hairs  which 
tufts  their  sharply  pointed  ears.  The  Canada  Lynx  is  re- 
markable for  its  gait.  Its  method  of  progression  is  by 
bounds  from  all  four  feet  at  once,  with  the  back  arched. 
It  feeds  principally  on  hares,  as  it  lacks  courage  to  attack 
the  larger  quadrupeds.  Its  length  is  about  three  feet. 
The  Indians  sometimes  eat  its  flesh,  which  is  white  and 


34  NATURAL  BIS  TOBY. 

firm,  and  not  unlike  that  of  the  hare.  Its  skin  forms  ar 
article  of  commerce. 

The  Chetah,  or  Hunting  Leopakd,  as  it  is  sometimes 
called,  is  one  of  the  most  elegant  and  graceful  animals 
known.  It  is  a  native  both  of  Africa  and  India,  but  it  is 
only  in  the  latter  country  that  it  is  used  for  hunting  game. 
The  method  of  employing  it  is  as  follows  :  The  Chetah  is 
usually  blindfolded  and  placed  upon  a  cart,  and  taken  as 
near  as  possible  to  the  place  where  deer  are  feeding.  When 
close  enough,  the  hunter  takes  the  band  from  its  eyes  and 
directs  its  head  towards  the  game.  Directly  the  Chetah 
sees  the  deer  it  creeps  off  the  cart  and  makes  towards 
them  as  rapidly  and  silently  as  it  can,  carefully  availing 
itself  of  the  cover  of  a  bush  or  stone,  precisely  as  a  cat  does 
when  stealing  after  a  bird.  When  it  has  succeeded  in  ap- 
proaching the  unsuspecting  herd,  it  makes  two  or  three 
tremendous  springs  and  fastens  on  the  back  of  one  unfor- 
tunate deer  brings  it  to  the  ground,  and  waits  until  its 
keeper  comes  up,  who  induces  it  to  leave  its  prey  by  a 
ladlefull  of  blood,  which  he  takes  care  to  have  ready.  The 
Chetah  is  then  hooded  and  led  back  to  his  cart.  It  is  so 
easily  tamable  and  so  gentle  that  it  is  frequently  led  for 
sale  about  the  streets  by  a  string. 

It  is  larger  than  the  leopard,  and  differs  from  it  in  the 
length  of  its  paws,  its  inability  to  climb  trees,  and  the 
crispness  of  its  fur.  It  is  therefore  placed  in  a  different 
genus  from  the  leopard. 

Hyenas  are  remarkable  for  their  predatory,  ferocious 
and  cowardly  habits.  There  are  several  Hyenas,  the 
striped,  the  spotted  and  the  villose,  but  as  the  habits  of  all 
are  very  similar  only  one  will  be  mentioned.  The  hyenas, 
although  very  repulsive  in  appearance,  are  yet  very  use- 
ful,  as  they  prowl  in  search  of  dead  animals,  and  will  de- 
vour them  even  when  putrid,  so  that  they  act  the  same 
part  among  beasts  that  the  vultures  do  among  birds,  and 
are  equally  uninviting  in  aspect.     They  not  infrequently 


mm 
■IKE'  •  •         -  ■  < '- ' 


lllfti. 


36  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

dig  up  recently-interred  corpses.  Their  jaws  and  teeth 
are  exceedingly  powerful,  as  they  can  crush  the  thigh- 
bone of  an  ox  with  little  effort,  and  so  great  is  the  strain 
upon  the  bones  by  the  exertions  of  these  muscles  that  the 
vertebra?  of  the  neck  become  anchylosed,  that  is,  become 
united  together,  and  the  animal  has  a  perpetual  stiff  neck 
in  consequence.  The  skull,  too,  is  very  strong,  and  fur- 
nished with  heavy  ridges  for  the  support  of  the  muscles 
which  move  the  jaw. 

Its  hinder  parts  are  very  small,  and  give  it  a  strange 
shambling  appearance  when  walking.  It  is  easily  tamed, 
and  even  domesticated. 

The  striped  Hyena  is  found  in  many  parts  of  Asia  and 
Africa,  where  it  is  both  a  benefit  and  a  pest,  for  when  dead 
animals  fail  it  the  flocks  and  herds  are  ravaged,  and  even 
man  does  not  always  escape. 

The  Civets  are  active  little  animals,  averaging  about 
two  feet  in  length.  The  whole  group  is  celebrated  for  the 
perfume  which  is  secreted  in  a  glandular  pouch  near  the 
tail,  and  is  of  some  importance  in  commerce. 

The  Civet  is  only  found  in  North  Africa,  especially  in 
Abyssinia,  where  it  takes  up  its  abode  on  uncultivated 
and  barren  hills.  It  feeds  upon  birds  and  the  smaller 
quadrupeds,  which  it  takes  by  surprise. 

The  Ichneumons,  or  Mangousts,  well  deserve  their  name 
of  Creepers,  for  with  their  long  bodies  and  snouts,  their 
short  limbs  and  slender  tails,  they  insinuate  themselves 
into  every  crevice  in  their  way  in  search  of  their  expected 
food.  Few  animals  are  more  useful  than  the  Ichneumons. 
Snakes,  lizards,  crocodiles'  eggs,  or  even  young  crocodiles 
themselves,  form  their  principal  food,  and  their  activity  is 
so  great  that,  when  these  sources  fail,  they  are  able  to  se- 
cure birds,  and  even  seize  upon  the  swift  and  wary  lizards, 
which,  when  alarmed,  dart  off  like  streaks  of  green  light- 
glancing  through  the  bushes* 


9 Natural  Histor» 


38  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

The  Egyptian  Ichneumon,  or  Pharaoh's  Rat,  as  it  is 
sometimes  called,  is  a  native  of  North  Africa,  and  is  often 
domesticated  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  various 
snakes  and  other  reptile  annoyances  which  are  such  a 
pest  in  the  houses  of  hot  countries.  Its  length  without  the 
tail  is  about  eighteen  inches. 

The  Dog  Family  includes  Dogs,  Wolves,  Jackals  and 
Foxes.  The  first  of  the  Dogs  is  the  Kolsun  or  Dhale, 
which  inhabits  Bombay  and  Nepaul.  It  hunts  in  packs, 
as  most  of  the  dogs  do  even  in  a  wild  state,  and  has"  been 
known  to  destroy  tigers  and  chetahs.  The  Newfound- 
land Dog  is  a  magnificent  creature,  and  was  originally 
brought  from  Newfoundland.  It  is  often  confounded  with 
the  Labrador  Dog,  a  larger,  and  more  powerful  animal, 
Both  these  dogs  are  trained  by  their  native  masters  to 
draw  sledges  and  little  carriages,  and  on  that  account  are 
highly  esteemed.  The  Newfoundland  is  well  known  as  a 
faithful  guardian  of  its  master's  property.  It  is  fond  of 
the  water,  and  will  fetch  out  any  article  that  its  master  in- 
dicates and  lay  it  at  his  feet.  Many  instances  are  known 
of  this  noble  animal  saving  the  lives  of  people  that  have 
fallen  into  the  water,  and  must  have  perished  but  for  its 
timely  aid. 

It  is  one  of  the  largest  of  the  dogs,  standing  nearly 
twenty-six  inches  in  height. 

The  Bloodhound,  of  which  there  are  several  varieties, 
inhabits  Cuba,  Africa  and  England.  They  are  all  en- 
dowed with  a  wonderfully  acute  sense  of  smell,  and  can 
trace  a  man  or  animal  with  almost  unerring  certainty. 
The  Cuban  Bloodhound  was  employed  by  the  Spaniards 
to  hunt  down  the  natives  while  endeavoring  to  escape 
from  their  invasions. 

The  Foxhound  and  Beagle  are  not  very  dissimilar  in 
form  or  in  habits.  They  both  follow  game  by  the  scentv 
and  are  used  in  hunting,     The  Foxhound,  as  its  name 


40  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

implies,  is  used  for  hunting  the  fox,  and  enters  into  the 
sport  with  great  eagerness.  Its  height  is  about  twenty-two 
inches. 

The  Beagle  is  used  principally  for  hare-hunting.  It  is 
much  smaller  than  the  Foxhound,  and  not  nearly  so  swift, 
but  its  scent  is  so  perfect  that  it  follows  every  track  of  the 
flying  hare,  unravels  all  her  windings,  and  seldom  fails  to 
secure  her  at  last.  Sportsmen  usually  prefer  the  smallest 
beagles  obtainable.  The  most  valuable  pack  of  these  dogs 
known  used  to  be  carried  to  and  from  the  field  in  a  pair 
of  panniers  slung  across  a  horse's  back.  It  is  a  common 
custom  in  the  military  schools,  and  at  the  universities,  to 
follow  the  beagle  on  foot.  There  is  a  society  near  London 
who  thus  hunt  on  foot.  As  too  much  time  would  be  lost 
in  looking  for  a  living  hare,  a  dead  rabbit  is  trailed  along 
the  ground,  and  as  its  fur  has  been  rubbed  with  aniseed, 
the  dogs  can  follow  it  easily. 

The  Pointer  is  used  by  sportsmen  to  point  out  the  spot 
where  the  game  lies.  It  ranges  the  fields  until  it  scents 
the  hare  or  partridge  lying  close  on  the  ground.  It  then 
remains  still,  as  if  carved  in  stone,  every  limb  fixed,  and 
the  tail  pointing  straight  behind  it.  In  this  attitude  it 
remains  until  the  gun  is  discharged,  reloaded,  and  the 
sportsman  has  reached  the  place  where  the  bird  sprang. 

The  Mastiff  is  distinguished  by  the  shortness  of  the 
nose  and  the  breadth  of  the  head.  This  group  includes 
the  mastiff,  the  bull-dog  and  the  absurd  little  pug-dog. 
The  breadth  of  their  heads  is  caused  by  the  large  muscles 
which  move  the  jaw. 

The  Mastiff  is  generally  employed  as  a  house-dog,  as 
its  powerful  frame  and  deep  voice  are  well  fitted  to  scare 
away  marauders  or  to  repel  them  if  they  approach  too 
near.  It  is  the  most  sagacious  of  the  whole  group,  and 
exhibits  more  attachment  to  its  master  than  the  others. 

The  Bull-dog  is  proverbial  for  courage  and  endurance, 
but  its  social  qualities  are  by  no  means  pleasing,     Al« 


DOG.S. 


lir^'."' 


(41  1 


42  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

though  it  has  some  attachment  for  its  master,  yet  it  is  not 
always  safe  even  for  him  to  disturb  it.  This  dog  was  ex- 
tensively used  in  the  cruel  sport  of  bull-baiting,  a  recrea- 
tion now  extinct.  When  opposed  to  the  bull  the  dog 
would  fly  at  its  nose,  and  there  hang  in  spite  of  all  the 
infuriated  animal's  struggles. 

The  Terriers  never  grow  to  any  considerable  size. 
There  are  several  breeds,  the  English  and  Scotch  being 
the  most  conspicuous.  Those  dogs  are  principally  used 
for  destroying  rats  or  other  vermin,  and  are  so  courageous 
that  they  do  not  hesitate  to  unearth  the  fox  or  the  badger. 
Otters  are  also  hunted  by  them,  but  prove  by  no  means 
an  easy  prey.  Terriers  are  extremely  attached  to  their 
masters,  and  are  capable  of  learning  many  tricks. 

The  Shepherd's  dog  is  a  rough,  shaggy  animal,  with 
sharp-pointed  ears  and  nose.  It  is  an  invaluable  assist- 
ant, never  suffering  the  sheep  to  stray,  and  when  two  flocks 
have  mixed  it  will  separate  its  own  charge  with  the  great- 
est certainty.  It  understands  every  look  and  gesture  of 
its  master,  and  drives  the  flock  to  any  place  which  he 
points  out. 

The  Greyhound  is  the  swiftest  of  all  dogs,  and  is  prin- 
cipally used  in  the  pursuit  of  the  hare.  It  has  but  little 
delicacy  of  scent,  and  hunts  almost  entirely  by  sight.  The 
hare  endeavors  to  baffle  it  by  making  sharp  turns,  which 
the  dog  cannot  do  on  account  of  its  superior  size,  and  has 
therefore  to  take  a  circuit,  during  which  the  hare  makes 
off  in  another  direction.  The  hare  also  has  the  property 
of  stopping  almost  instantaneously  when  at  full  speed.  It 
puts  this  manoeuvre  into  force  when  it  is  nearing  its  favor- 
ite hiding-place.  It  induces  the  dog  to  spring  upon  it, 
and  then  suddenly  checks  itself.  The  dog  is  carried  twenty 
feet  by  its  own  momentum,  and  the  hare  springs  to  her 
place  of  refuge. 

Wolf. — The  Wolf  looks  much  like  a  large,  shaggy  dog, 
and  it  has  been  thought  by  many  that  the  first  dogs 


WOLF. 


43 


sprung  from  Wolves.  When  taken  young  the  Wolf  may 
be  tamed,  and  it  shows  as  much  love  for  its  master  as  the 
dog  does.     The  Wolf  is  very  swift,  and  hunts  deer  and 


Wolf. 


other  animals  in  pairs.  It  is  sly  and  stealthy,  and  often 
prowls  about  lonely  farms  to  catch  stray  sheep,  calves, 
pigs  or  fowls,  but  is  also  cowardly,  and  is  easily  frightened 
off  by  the  barking  of  a  dog  or  the  sound  of  a  gun.     But 


44  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

when  pressed  by  hunger  it  becomes  dangerous,  and  will 
attack  horses  and  oxen,  and  even  men.  In  hard  winters 
packs  of  hungry  Wolves  come  down  from  the  forests  of 
the  Alps  and  other  mountains  in  Europe  and  commit 
great  ravages ;  and  many  terrible  stories  have  been  told 
of  travellers  who  have  been  chased  by  them  in  great  for- 
ests, especially  in  Russia  and  Siberia.  In  one  case  a  man 
and  his  wife,  who  were  riding  in  a  sleigh  through  the 
woods,  were  so  hard  pressed  by  Wolves  that  they  saved 
themselves  only  by  throwing  out  their  children,  one  by 
one,  to  be  devoured  by  the  hungry  beasts.  It  is  said  that 
in  Russia  more  than  two  hundred  human  beings  are  killed 
by  Wolves  every  year,  and  a  great  many  thousands  of 
cattle  and  sheep. 

The  Gray  Wolf,  of  North  America,  is  usually  gray 
above  and  yellowish-gray  below,  but  is  sometimes  nearly 
white.  It  is  three  or  four  feet  long,  with  a  tail  about  a 
foot  and  a  half  long.  Packs  of  these  Wolves  follow  the 
buffalo  herds  on  the  Western  plains,  feeding  on  the  sick 
and  straggling  ones.  The}7-  also  attack  horses,  and  some- 
times men,  when  very  hungry.  They  were  once  plentiful 
in  New  England,  but  now  only  a  few  are  found  in  moun- 
tains and  thickly-wooded  parts. 

The  Indians  catch  many  Gray  Wolves  in  traps,  and 
also  kill  many  by  surrounding  them  in  a  circle,  which 
they  make  smaller,  little  by  little,  until  they  get  near 
enough  to  shoot  them. 

The  Prairie  Wolf,  which  the  Mexicans  call  Coyote,  is 
smaller  than  the  Gray  Wolf,  and  is  much  like  the  Jackal. 
The  true  Wolf  has  a  howl  like  that  of  a  dog,  but  the 
Prairie  Wolf  has  only  a  kind  of  snapping  bark,  whence 
it  is  sometimes  called  the  Barking  Wolf.  It  lives  in  bur- 
rows on  the  great  Western  plains,  is  very  swift,  and  hunts 
in  packs. 

The  Fox,  this  terror  of  hen-roosts  and  delight  of  sports- 
men, is  found  in  many  parts  of  America  and  many  other 


46  NATURAL  HISTORY, 

countries.  It  varies  very  much  in  color  and  size,  accord- 
ing to  the  country  where  it  lives. 

The  habits  of  this  animal  are  mostly  nocturnal.  It  lies 
by  Jay  concealed  in  its  burrow ;  but  towards  evening  it 
sallies  out  in  search  of  food,  and  woe  to  the  hare,  rabbit, 
pheasant  or  fowl  that  comes  in  its  way  ! 

Sometimes  he  steals  into  the  hen-roost,  destroys  and 
carries  off  most  of  its  inmates,  some  of  which  he  devours 
on  the  spot,  others  he  carries  home,  and  the  remainder  he 
buries  for  a  future  repast. 

When  irritated  the  Fox  gives  out  a  strong,  disagreeable 
scent,  which  lies  so  long  on  the  ground  that  it  may  be  per- 
ceived for  nearly  an  hour  after  the  Fox  has  passed.  Partly 
on  this  account,  and  partly  on  account  of  its  speed,  endur* 
ance  and  cunning,  the  chase  of  the  Fox  is  a  favorite  sport. 

Weasels  are  easily  distinguished  by  their  long,  slender 
bodies,  short  muzzle,  sharp  teeth  and  predatory  habits. 
They  inhabit  almost  every  part  of  the  world,  and  procure 
their  food  by  creeping  on  the  unsuspecting  victim,  gen- 
erally a  rabbit,  rat  or  bird,  and  then  suddenly  darting  at  it 
and  piercing  its  neck  with  their  sharp  teeth.  Almost  all 
the  Weasels  devour  the  brain  and  suck  the  blood  of  their 
prey,  but  seldom  touch  the  flesh,  unless  they  are  pressed 
by  hunger. 

There  are  two  kinds  of  Martens,  named,  from  their 
favorite  haunts,  the  Pine  and  the  Beech  Marten.  The 
Pine  is  common  in  North  America,  where  it  is  much  too 
fond  of  chickens  and  ducklings  to  be  a  desirable  neighbor. 
This  animal,  as  well  as  the  Sable,  is  much  sought  after  on 
account  of  its  skin,  which  furnishes  a  beautiful  fur,  not 
much  inferior  to  that  of  the  Sable. 

The  Stoat,  or  Ermine,  is  another  common  animal.  It 
is  smaller  than  the  polecat,  but  its  habits  are  scarcely  less 
predaceous.  Hares  and  rabbits  fall  easy  victims  to  their 
little  enemv.  who  dispatches  fhpm  with  «  ssinjjlp  bite,  nene» 


7"  '  v  i1 1 

;:  .-■..-  :f. 

?     '     ■      ■         :  ■ 

;■ 
I;----.-.     ■■'■  .^•...-.■■' ■..,..,  ■,.■■;■■..■.•;: 


X 


5»a» 


111 


ii 


v.A ■  &  U<UuJm  lil» 


Ht 


aW1 


48  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

trating  the  brain.  During  the  winter  the  Stoat  becomes 
partially  white,  in  northern  countries  wholly  so,  except 
the  tip  of  the  tail,  which  remains  black.  In  this  state  it  is 
called  the  Ermine,  and  is  killed  in  great  numbers  for  the 
sake  of  its  valuable  fur. 

The  Weasel  is  the  least  of  this  tribe.  It  is  very  useful 
to  farmers,  as  it  wages  war  on  rats  and  mice,'  and  extir- 
pates them  from  a  barn  or  stack.  It  hunts  by  scent  like 
dogs,  and  tracks  the  unfortunate  rat  with  the  most  deadly 
certainty.  It  is  a  courageous  little  animal,  and  will  even 
attack  men,  who  have  found  it  by  no  means  a  despicable 
antagonist,  as  its  instinct  invariably  leads  it  to  dash  at 
the  throat,  where  a  bite  from  its  long  sharp  teeth  would  be 
very  dangerous. 

The  Badger. — This  harmless  and  much  injured  animal 
(which  is  often  subjected  to  such  ill-treatment  that  the  term 
*  badgering  "  a  person  is  used  to  express  irritating  him  in 
every  possible  way)  lives  at  the  bottom  of  deep  burrows 
which  it  excavates,  and  in  which  ■  it  passes  all  the  day, 
sleeping  on  a  bed  of  hay  and  grass.  When  the  evening 
approaches  it  seeks  its  food,  consisting  of  roots,  fruit,  in- 
sects, and  sometimes  young  rabbits.  It  is  also  said  to  at- 
tack the  wild  bee,  and  boldly  to  devour  the  honey-combs., 
its  thick  hair  and  skin  rendering  it  utterly  regardless  of 
the  stings  of  the  enraged  bees. 

The  power  of  the  Badger's  bite  is  caused  by  the  manner 
in  which  the  under  jaw  is  set  on.  Not  only  are  its  teeth 
sharp,  and  the  leverage  of  its  jaw  powerful,  but  the  jaw  is 
so  contrived  that  when  the  creature  closes  its  mouth  the 
jaws  lock  together  as  it  were,  and  are  held  fast  without 
much  exertion  on  the  part  of  the  Badger. 

Its  skin  is  rather  valuable,  the  hair  being  employed  in 
the  manufacture  of  brushes,  and  its  fur  being  in  some  re- 
quest for  holsters.     The  length  of  the  Badger  is  27  inches. 

The  Otter  seems  to  play  the  same  part  in  the  water  as 
the  Polecat  and  the  other  weasels  on  the  land.     Like  the 


81 


:V    ^ 


The  Grizzly  Pear. 


4;'  . 


50  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

Polecat  it  is  rapacious,  and  destroys  many  more  creatures 
than  it  can  devour ;  and  as  the  Polecat  only  eats  the  brain 
and  sucks  the  blood,  so  the  Otter  daintily  eats  the  flakes  at 
the  back  of  the  fish's  neck  and  leaves  the  remainder  for  less 
fastidious  animals. 

It  slides  noiselessly  into  the  water,  turns  and  twists 
about  below  the  surface  with  the  same  ease  as  a  fish,  then, 
with  a  graceful  sweep  of  the  body,  it  glides  to  the  surface 
and  ascends  the  bank  with  almost  the  same  motion. 
While  below  the  surface  it  bears  a  great  resemblance  to  the 
seal,  the  method  in  which  it  disposes  its  hind-feet  greatly 
assisting  the  effect.  Its  rapid  and  easy  movements  in  the 
water  are  mostly  performed  by  the  assistance  of  its  pow- 
erful tapering  tail. 

The  Otter  is  easily  tamed,  and  is  sometimes  trained  to 
catch  fish  and  bring  them  to  shore. 

The  Hindoos  have  brought  the  art  of  Otter-training  to 
great  perfection,  and  keep  their  Otters  regularly  tethered 
with  ropes  and  straw  collars  on  the  banks  of  the  river. 

The  Bears  and  their  allies  are  mostly  heavy,  and  walk 
with  the  whole  foot  placed  flat  on  the  ground,  unlike  the 
cats,  dogs,  etc.,  who  walk  with  merely  their  paws  or  toes. 
All  the  Bears  eat  either  animal  or  vegetable  food,  so  that  a 
leg  of  mutton,  a  pot  of  honey,  a  potato  or  an  apple  are 
equally  acceptable. 

The  Brow.n  Bear  inhabits  the  north  of  Europe,  Switzer- 
land and  the  Pyrenees.  It  is  hunted  with  much  skill,  and 
taken  in  traps  and  pitfalls. 

In  the  olden  time  the  bear  used  to  be  baited,  that  is,  tied 
to  a  pole,  and  several  dogs  were  set  at  him,  the  object  be- 
ing to  see  whether  the  bear  could  bite  the  dogs  or  the  dogs 
bite  the  bear  with  the  greater  force.  This  cruel  sport  is 
now  extinct. 

The  Grizzlt:  Bear  is  a  native  of  North  America.  It  is 
the  most  ferocious  and  powerful  of  its  family,  and  is  an 
animal  which  must  either  be  avoided  or  fought,  for  there 


Polar  Beaks  and  theie  Pkey. 


(51  ) 


52 


NATURAL  RIiSTORY. 


is  no  medium.  If  a  Grizzly  Bear  once  sees  a  man  it  will 
probably  chase  him,  and  will  do  so  with  great  persever- 
ance. A  traveller  relates  that  he  had  been  chased  nearly 
thirty  miles  by  one  of  these  Bears,  who  would  probably 
have  kept  up  the  chase  as  many  miles  more  had  he  not 
•crossed  a  wide  river,  over  which  the  Bear  did  not  choose 
to  follow  him. 

The  Grizzly  Bear  is  marvellously  tenacious  of  life.  It  is 
said  after  a  party  of  hunters  have  been  combating  one  of 
these  bears  it  is  impossible  to  find  four  square  inches  of 
sound  skin  on  the  animal's  body,  a  ball  through  the  brain 
or  heart  affording  the  only  means  of  safety  to  the  hunter. 
It  is  rather  singular  that  this  Bear  has  the  power  of  mov- 
ing each  claw  separately,  as  we  move  our  fingers.  It  is 
able  to  overcome  and  carry  off  the  enormous  bison,  and  to 
dig  a  pit  in  which  to  bury  it. 

The  Polar,  or  White  Bear,  called  Nennook  by  the 
Esquimaux,  lives  in  the  Arctic  regions,  where  it  feeds  on 
seals,  fish,  and  even  the  walrus,  but  it  dares  not  attack  the 
latter  animal  openly.  It  is  a  formidable  antagonist  either 
by  land  or  water,  as  it  dives  with  great  ease  and  is  able  to 
chase  the  seal  amid  the  waves.  As  the  seals  frequently 
crawl  out  of  the  water  upon  rocks  or  fragments  of  ice,  the 
Polar  Bear  is  forced  to  swim  after  them  ;  but  lest  they 
should  observe  him  he  makes  his  approaches  by  a  suc- 
cession of  dives,  and  contrives  that  the  last  dive  brings 
him  directly  under  the  unsuspecting  seal,  who  is  imme- 
diately grasped  and  killed.  These  Bears  are  often  drifted 
from  Greenland  to  Iceland  on  fields  of  ice,  and  they  find 
the  flocks  and  herds  so  very  delicious  after  a  long  course 
of  seal  diet  that  the  inhabitants  are  forced  to  rise  in  a  body 
and  put  an  end  to  their  depreciations. 

To  give  this  animal,  who  is  constantly  running  over 
fields  of  ice,  a  firm  footing  the  soles  of  its  feet  are  thickly 
covered  with  long  hair. 

The  Raccoon  is  an  animal  about  the  size  of  a  large  fox, 


^-Natural  History 


54-  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

and  inhabits  Canada  and  parts  of  America.  It  is  said  to 
wash  its  food  before  eating  it.  Its  skin  is  valuable,  and 
much  sought  after. 

The  food  of  the  Raccoon  is  principally  small  animals 
and  insects.  Oysters  are  also  a  very  favorite  article  of  its 
diet.  It  bites  off  the  hinge  of  the  oyster  and  scrapes  out 
the  animal  in  fragments  with  its  paws.  Like  a  squirrel 
when  eating  a  nut,  the  Raccoon  usually  holds  its  food  be 
tween  its  fore  paws  pressed  together,  and  sits  upon  its 
hind-quarters  while  it  eats.  Poultry  are  favorite  objects 
of  its  attack,  and  it  is  said  to  be  as  destructive  in  a  farm- 
yard as  any  Fox,  for  it  only  devours  the  heads  of  the  mur- 
dered fowl.     Like  the  Fox,  it  prowls  by  night. 

When  taken  young  it  is  easily  tamed,  but  very  fre- 
quently becomes  blind  soon  after  its  capture.  This  effect 
is  supposed  to  be  produced  by  the  sensitive  state  of  its 
eyes,  which  are  only  intended  to  be  used  by  night ;  but 
as  it  is  frequently  awakened  by  daylight  during  its  cap- 
tivity, it  suffers  so  much  from  the  unusual  glare,  that  its 
eyes  gradually  lose  their  sight. 

Many  ridiculous  stories  of  the  Mole  and  its  habits  are 
told.  It  is  said  to  be  deprived  of  eyes,  to  undergo  un- 
heard-of tortures  in  forcing  its  way  through  the  earth, 
and  to  spend  a  life  of  misery  in  damp  and  darkness. 
But  so  far  from  being  a  miserable  animal,  the  Mole  seems 
to  enjoy  its  life  quite  as  much  as  any  other  creature. 
It  is  beautifully  fitted  for  the  station  which  it  fills,  and 
would  be  unhappy  if  removed  from  its  accustomed  damp 
and  darkness  into  warmth  and  light. 

Its  eyes  are  very  small,  in  order  to  prevent  them  from 
being  injured  by  the  earth  through  which  the  animal 
makes  its  way;  indeed,  larger  eyes  would  be  useless  un- 
derground. When,  however,  the  Mole  requires  to  use  its 
eyes,  it  can  bring  them  forward  from  the  mass  of  fur 
which  conceals  and  protects  them  when  net  in  use.  The 
acute  ears  and  delii  ate  sense  of  smell  supply  the  place  of 


56  NATURAL  EISWRY. 

eyes.  Its  fur  is  very  fine,  soft,  capable  of  turning  in  any 
direction,  and  will  not  retain  a  particle  of  mold.  But  the 
most  extraordinary  part  of  the  Mole  is  the  paw  or  hand 
with  which  it  digs.  The  two  fore-paws  are  composed  of 
five  fingers,  armed  with  sharp,  strong  nails,  in  order  to 
scrape  up  the  earth ;  and  to  prevent  the  accumulated 
mold  from  impeding  the  mole's  progress,  the  hands  are 
turnea  outwardly,  so  as  to  throw  the  earth  out  of  its  way. 

The  Mole  is  a  most  voracious  animal,  and  is  incapable 
of  sustaining  even  a  slight  fast.  Its  principal  food  is  the 
earth-worm,  in  chase  of  which  it  drives  its  long  galleries 
underground  ;  but  it  also  will  eat  insects,  bits  of  meat,  and 
is  said  sometimes  to  catch  birds,  which  it  takes  by  sur- 
prise, and  then  rapidly  tears  to  pieces  with  its  powerful 
claws.  This  ravenous  appetite  causes  it  to  suffer  from 
thirst  if  a  supply  of  water  is  not  at  hand.  For  this  reason 
the  Mole  always  makes  a  tunnel  towards  a  pond  or  brook, 
if  there  is  one  near.  If  no  water  is  near,  it  digs  a  number 
of  little  wells,  which  receive  the  rain  or  dew,  and  enable 
it  to  quench  its  thirst.  It  is  a  good  swimmer,  and  can 
pass  from  bank  to  bank,  or  from  the  shore  to  an  island, 
and  when  the  fields  are  inundated  by  floods  it  can  save 
itself  by  swimming. 

The  construction  of  the  Mole's  habitation  is  very  sin- 
gular and  interesting.  Each  Mole  has  its  own  habitation 
and  hunting-ground,  and  will  not  permit  strangers  to  tres- 
pass upon  its  preserves,  which  it  guards  by  its  claws  and 
teeth. 

Its  passion  for  work,  i.e.,  search  after  its  food,  has  some- 
thing fierce  in  it.  The  animal  works  desperately  for  sev- 
eral hours,  and  then  rests  for  as  many  hours.  Its  mode 
of  burrowing  is  by  rooting  up  the  earth  with  its  snout,  and 
then  scooping  it  away  with  its  fore-feet.  The  depth  at 
which  this  animal  works  depends  almost  entirely  on  the 
*ime  of  year.  In  the  summer  the  worms  come  to  the  sur- 
face, and  the  Mole  accordingly  follows  them,  making  quite 


8RE.EW  MOUSE.  57 

superficial  runs,  and  sometimes  only  scooping  trenches  on 
the  surface.  But  in  the  winter,  when  the  worms  sink 
deep  into  the  ground,  the  Mole  is  forced  to  follow  them 
there,  and  as  it  cannot  fast  above  an  hour  or  two,  it  is 
forced  to  work  at  the  hard  and  heavy  soil  as  it  did  in  the 
light  earth  nearer  the  surface. 

Moles  vary  in  color,  the  usual  tint  being  a  very  deep 
brown,  almost  black,  but  they  have  been  seen  of  an  orange 
color,  and  a  white  variety  is  not  uncommon.  I  have  a 
cream  colored  skin  in  my  possession.  There  are  several 
Moles  known — the  Shrew  Mole,  the  Changeable  Mole,  the 
Cape  Mole,  and  the  Star-nosed  Mole,  are  the  most  con- 
spicuous. 

The  Shrew  Mouse  is  very  like  the  Common  Mouse,  but 
is  easily  distinguished  from  it  by  the  length  of  the  nose, 
which  is  used  for  grubbing  up  the  earth  in  search  of  earth- 
worms and  insects. 

The  Shrew  has  no  connection  with  the  true  mice.  It 
belongs  to  an  entirely  different  class  of  animals,  its  teeth 
being  sharp  and  pointed,  while  those  of  the  Mouse  are 
broad  and  chisel-shaped,  like  the  teeth  of  the  rabbit.  A 
peculiar  scent  is  diffused  from  these  animals,  which  is 
possibly  the  reason  why  the  cat  will  not  eat  them,  although 
she  will  readily  destroy  them. 

Many  species  of  Shrews  are  known,  inhabiting  various 
countries.  There  are,  besides  the  common  species,  the 
Oared  and  the  Water  Shrew.  The  formation  of  their  hair 
as  seen  under  a  microscope  is  very  beautiful,  but  quite 
distinct  from  the  hair  of  the  Mouse  or  Rat.  In  the  autumn, 
numbers  of  these  little  animals  may  be  seen  lying  dead, 
but  what  causes  this  destruction  is  not  known. 

This  is  one  of  the  numerous  animals  that  have  suffered 
by  false  reports,  and  have  been  treated  with  great  cruelty 
on  account  of  those  fables.  Rustics  formerly  believed  that 
the  poor  little  harmless  creature  paralyzed  their  cattle  by 
tunning  over  them,  and  that  the  only  way  to  cure  the  dis- 


5b  NATURAL  HISTORX. 

eased  animal  was  to  place  a  bough  of  shrew-ash  on  the 
injured  part.  A  Shrew  cut  in  half  and  placed  on  a  wound 
supposed  to  be  caused  by  its  bite  was  considered  a 
remedy. 

The  Hedgehog  is  one  of  the  remarkable  animals  that  is 
guarded  with  spikes.  These  spikes  are  fixed  into  the  skin 
in  a  very  beautiful  and  simple  manner.  When  annoyed 
it  rolls  itself  up,  and  the  tightness  of  the  skin  causes  all 
its  spines  to  stand  firm  and  erect,  bidding  defiance  to  an 
unprotected  hand.  While  rolled  up,  even  the  dog  and  the 
fox  are  baffled  by  it;  but  their  ingenuity  enables  them  to 
overcome  the  difficulty  by  rolling  it  along  until  they  push 
it  into  a  puddle  or  pool,  when  the  astonished  Hedgehog 
unrolls  itself  to  see  what  is  the  matter,  and  before  it  can 
close  itself  again  is  seized  by  its  crafty  enemy. 

Its  food  consists  of  insects,  snails,  frogs,  mice  and  snakes. 
Buckiand  placed  a  snake  in  tne  same  box  with  the  Hedge- 
hog. The  Hedgehog  gave  the  snake  a  severe  bite,  and  then 
rolled  itself  up,  this  process  being  repeated  until  the  spine 
of  the  snake  was  broken  in  several  places;  it  then  began 
at  the  tail  and  ate  the  snake  gradually,  as  one  would  eat 
a  radish.  It  has  been  known  to  bore  down  and  eat  the 
roots  of  the  plantain,  leaving  the  leaves  and  the  stem  un- 
touched. 

The  flesh  of  the  Hedgehog  is  said  to  be  good  eating,  and 
the  gypsies  frequently  make  it  a  part  of  their  diet,  as  do 
the  people  in  some  parts  of  France  and  Belgium. 

During  the  winter  it  lives  in  a  torpid  state,  in  a  hole 
well  lined  with  grass  and  moss,  and  when  discovered 
looks  like  a  round  mass  of  leaves,  as  it  has  rolled  itself 
among  the  fallen  foliage,  which  adheres  to  its  spikes. 
The  quill  is,  as  it  were,  pinned  through  the  skin  and  re- 
tained by  the  head.  The  curvature  is  such,  that  when  the 
animal  contracts  itself  the  quills  are  drawn  upright,  and 
form  a  strong  and  elastic  covering,  useful  for  more  pur- 
poses than  merely  defense  from  foes.     The  Hedgehog  has 


KANGAROO. 


59 


been  known  to  throw  itself  boldly  from  a  considerable 
height,  trusting  to  the  elasticity  of  the  spring  for  breaking 


Common  Hedgehog. 

its  fall.  When  the  spines  are  upright  the  shock  of  the 
fall  would  not  tend  to  drive  the  end  of  the  quill  upon  the 
animal,    but    merely 


spend  its  force  upon 
the  elasticity  of  the 
curved  portion. 

The  Kangaroo.  In 
the  Mole  we  saw  that 
the  power  of  the  body 
was  placed  chiefly  in 
the  fore-legs  ;  we  now 
come  to  a  family 
which  has  the  princi- 
pal power  placed  in 
the  hinder-part  of  the  body.  In  the  Kangaroos  the  hind- 
legs  are  very  long  and  immensely  powerful ;  the  fore-legs 
ire  very  small,  and  used  more  as  hands  than  for  walking; 
the  tail  also  is  very  thick  and  strong,  and  assists  the  ani- 
mal in  its  leaps. 

The  Great  Kangaroo  inhabits  Australia.    Its  singular 


Hedgehog  and  Young. 


60  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

formation,  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  country,  calls  forth  3 
corresponding  degree  of  ingenuity  on  the  part  of  the  na- 
tives, who  live  much  on  its  flesh.  Its  method  of  progres- 
sion is  by  immense  leaps  from  its  long  hind-legs. 

The  natural  walking  position  of  this  animal  is  on  all 
four  legs,  although  it  constantly  sits  up  on  the  hinder-legs, 
or  even  stands  on  a  tripod  composed  of  its  feet  and  tail,  in 
order  to  look  out  over  the  tops  of  the  grass  among  which 
it  lives.  The  leaping  movements  are  required  for  haste 
or  escape,  the  length  of  each  leap  being  about  fifteen  feet. 

Hunting  this  animal  is  a  favorite  sport.  The  natives 
either  knock  it  down  with  the  boomerang,  spear  it  from 
behind  a  bush,  or  unite  together  and  hem  in  a  herd,  which 
soon  fall  victims  to  the  volley  of  clubs,  spears  and  boomer- 
angs which  pour  in  on  all  sides.  The  colonists  either 
shoot  it  or  hunt  it  with  dogs,  a  pack  of  which  is  trained 
for  the  purpose  just  as  we  train  fox-hounds.  The  "  old 
man,"  or  "  boomer,"  as  the  colonists  call  the  Great  Kan- 
garoo, invariably  leads  the  dogs  a  severe  chase,  always  at- 
tempting to  reach  water  and  escape  by  swimming.  It  is 
a  formidable  foe  to  the  dogs  when  it  stands  at  bay,  as  it 
seizes  the  dog  with  its  fore  legs,  and  either  holds  him  un- 
der water  until  he  is  drowned,  or  tears  him  open  with  a 
well-directed  kick  of  its  powerful  hind-feet,  which  are 
armed  with  a  very  sharp  claw. 

The  female  Kangaroo  carries  its  young  about  in  a  kind 
of  pouch,  from  which  they,  emerge  when  they  wish  for  a 
little  exercise,  and  leap  back  again  on  the  slightest  alarm. 
All  the  Kangaroos  and  the  Opossums  have  this  pouch. 

The  length  of  the  Great  Kangaroo  is  about  five  feet, 
without  the  tail,  the  length  of  which  is  about  three  feet. 

There  are  many  species  of  Kangaroo,  the  most  extraor- 
dinary being  the  Tree  Kangaroo,  which  can  hop  about  on 
trees,  and  has  curved  claws  on  its  fore-paws,  like  those  of 
the  Sloth,  to  enable  it  to  hold  on  the  branches. 

The  Opossum  inhabits  North  and  South  America,  and  is 


62  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

hunted  with  almost  as  much  perseverance  as  the  Raccoon, 
not,  however,  for  the  sake  of  its  fur,  but  of  its  flesh.  When 
it  perceives  the  hunter,  it  lies  still  between  the  branches, 
but  if  disturbed  from  its  hiding-place,  it  attempts  to  escape 
by  dropping  among  the  herbage  and  creeping  away. 

Its  food  consists  of  insects,  birds,  eggs,  etc.,  and  it  is 
very  destructive  among  the  hen-roosts.  The  Opossum 
uses  its  tail  for  climbing  and  swinging  from  branch  to 
branch,  as  the  Spider-Monkeys  use  theirs,  but  the  Opos- 
sum uses  its  tail  in  a  manner  that  the  Monkeys  have  never 
yet  been  observed  to  do,  that  is,  making  it  a  support  for  its 
young,  who  sit  on  its  back  and  twist  their  tails  round  their 
mother's  in  order  to  prevent  them  from  falling  off. 

It  is  a  most  crafty  animal,  and  when  overtaken  by  its 
pursuers  can  simulate  death  so  admirably  that  it  fre- 
quently deceives  the  foe,  and  quietly  makes  its  escape. 

The  length  of  the  Opossum  is  about  twenty-two  inches, 
and  its  height  about  that  of  an  ordinary  cat.  When  dis- 
turbed or  alarmed,  it  gives  out  a  very  unpleasant  odor. 
The  name  Opossum  is  derived  from  the  Indians. 

The  Seals  and  Whales,  although  they  are  truly  mam- 
malia, are  inhabitants  of  the  water,  and  specially  formed 
for  an  aquatic  existence. 

The  fore-feet  of  the  seal  are  used  as  fins,  and  the  two 
hinder-feet  almost  as  the  tail  of  a  fish,  to  assist  and  direct 
its  course.  On  land  its  movements  are  very  clumsy  ;  it 
shuffles  along  by  means  of  its  fore-feet,  or  rather  paddles, 
and  drags  its  hind-feet  after  it. 

Seals  live  during  warm  weather  mostly  in  the  cold  re- 
gions of  the  north  and  south  poles,  and  go  into  milder 
waters  in  the  winter.  Their  food  is  chiefly  fish,  and  they 
sometimes  chase  salmon  quite  far  up  rivers.  They  like 
to  bask  in  the  sun  upon  rocks,  sand-banks  or  ice-floes, 
always  keeping  a  good  lookout  for  danger,  They  can  see 
far,  and  their  sense  of  smell  is  very  sharp. 


""""Pi&Zll       "si*" 


64  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

Seals  mostly  live  on  mollusks,  crabs  and  fish.  In  the 
winter  they  make  holes  in  the  ice,  where  they  can  come 
up  to  breathe.  Sometimes  one  comes  out  to  eat  a  fish. 
The  Esquimaux  watch  near  seal  holes  until  one  is  seen 
coming  up,  then  crawl  softly  along  on  the  ice,  making  a 
cry  like  a  seal,  and  the  poor  animal,  who  takes  it  for  an- 
other seal,  does  not  discover  its  mistake  until  it  gets  a 
deadly  blow. 

Seals  are  among  the  most  useful  of  animals  to  man.  The 
Greenlanders  use  their  flesh  for  food  ;  their  oil  for  light, 
warmth  and  cooking  :  their  skins  for  clothes,  boots  and 
coverings  of  boats  and  tents ;  their  sinews  for  thread  and 
fishing-lines;  the  skins  of  the  entrails  for  window-curtains 
and  shirts,  and  their  blood  for  making  soup.  Seal-skins 
are  an  important  article  of  commerce,  and  the  seal-fishery 
is  largely  carried  on  along  the  coast  of  Newfoundland  and 
Labrador,  and  also  on  the  islands  off  the  coast  of  Alaska, 
The  fur  in  its  natural  state  is  yellowish,  spotted  and 
marked  with  brown,  and  is  unfit  for  use  until  it  is  dyed- 
Dressed  seal-skins  are  largely  used  for  ladies'  cloaks, 
capes,  etc.  The  skins  are  tanned  sometimes  and  made 
into  a  fine  soft  leather  for  pocketbooks,  card-cases  and 
other  things.  Seal-oil,  made  from  the  blubber  of  fat,  is 
more  valuable  than  whale-oil. 

The  length  of  the  Common  Seal  is  about  five  feet,  and 
its  weight  often  over  200  pounds.  When  surprised  bask- 
ing on  the  shore,  it  scrambles  off  towards  the  water,  but 
if  intercepted,  dashes  at  its  antagonist,  oversets  him  if  pos- 
sible, and  makes  its  escape  as  fast  as  it  can. 

There  are  many  Seals  known,  among  which  are  the  Sea 
Leopard,  a  spotted  species ;  the  Harp  Seal,  so  called  be- 
cause the  markings  on  its  back  resemble  a  lyre ;  the  Sea 
Bear  and  the  Sea  Lion. 

The  Walrus  inhabits  the  northern  seas.  Its  most  re- 
markable point  is  the  great  length  of  its  upper  canine 
teeth,  which  extend  downwards  for  nearly  two  feet,  and 


WALRUS.  65 

•esemble  the  tusks  of  the  elephant.  They  furnish  very- 
fine  ivory,  and  are  used  by  dentists  in  making  artificial 
teeth,  as  teeth  made  from  them  remain  white  much  longer 


Seals  Swimming. 


than  those  made  from  the  tusks  of  elephants.  These 
tusiis  are  used  by  the  Walrus  for  climbing  the  rocks  or 
heaps  of  ice,  and  also  for  digging  up  the  seaweeds  on  which 
the  animal  mostly  subsists.  It  will  also  eat  shrimps  and 
young  seals. 


66  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

The  Walrus  is  hunted  for  the  sake  of  its  oil,  its  flesh,  its 
skin  and  its  teeth.  It  is  generally  found  in  troops,  and  if 
one  is  wounded,  its  companions  rush  to  its  rescue  and  at- 
tack the  enemy  with  their  sharp  tusks,  which  they  have 
been  known  to  drive  through  the  bottom  of  a  boat.  The 
length  of  the  Walrus  is  about  fifteen  feet,  and  it  yields 
about  twenty-five  gallons  of  excellent  oil. 

The  Whale  tribe  closely  resemble  the  fishes,  and  have 
often  been  placed  among  these  animals  by  naturalists. 
They,  however,  are  distinguished  by  possessing  warm 
blood,  and,  in  consequence,  being  forced  to  rise  at  inter- 
vals in  order  to  breathe  the  air,  instead  of  separating  from 
the  water,  by  means  of  their  gills,  sufficient  oxygen  for 
supporting  life. 

Yet  the  Whale  remains  under  water  for  a  time  so  much 
longer  than  could  be  borne  by  any  other  warm-blooded 
animal,  that  the  most  indifferent  observer  cannot  fail  to 
perceive  that  the  Whale  is  furnished  with  some  plan  for 
supporting  life  during  its  stay  beneath  the  water. 

Along  the  interior  of  the  ribs  is  a  vast  collection  of 
blood-vessels,  ramifying  from  one  another  and  capable  of 
containing  a  large  quantity  of  blood,  having  no  immediate 
connection  with  that  portion  of  the  blood  which  is  already 
circulating  in  the  body.  As  fast  as  the  exhausted  and 
poisonous  blood  returns  from  its  work  it  passes  into  an- 
other reservoir  adapted  for  its  necessities,  while  a  portion 
of  the  arterialized  blood  in  the  arterial  reservoir  passes  into 
the  circulation.  It  will  be  seen  from  this  that  the  Whales, 
and  others  of  the  same  order,  possess  more  blood  in  pro- 
portion than  any  animals.  By  means  of  this  wonderful 
apparatus  a  whale  can  remain  below  the  water  for  more 
than  half  an  hour  at  a  time. 

The  depths  to  which  the  Whale  can  descend  are  aston- 
ishing, wounded  whales  having  been  known  to  take 
down  perpendicularly  nearly  800  fathoms  of  line.  The 
pressure  of  the  water  at  this  depth  is  very  great,  amount- 


WHALE. 


67 


ing,  according  to  Scoresby's  calculation,  to  211,200  tons. 
This  pressure  would  certainly  cause  the  water  to  burst 


Waletjsses  on  the  Ice. 

through  their  nostrils  and  enter  the  lungs,  were  it  not 
that  the  nostrils  are  formed  so  as  to  close  themselves  more 

firmly  as  the  pressure  of  water  increases- 


t>8  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

The  great  Greenland  Whale  is  found  in  the  Northern 
Oceans.  Many  ships  are  annually  fitted  out  for  the  cap- 
ture of  this  creature,  which  furnishes  oil  and  whalebone. 
The  oil  is  obtained  from  the  thick  layer  of  fatty  substance 
called  blubber,  which  lies  under  the  skin ;  and  the  whale- 
bone— which,  by  the  way,  is  not  bone  at  all — is  obtained 
from  the  interior  of  the  mouth,  where  it  fringes  the  jaws, 
and  acts  as  a  sieve  for  the  Whale  to  strain  his  food  through. 
The  throat  of  the  Greenland  Whale  is  so  small,  that  the 
sailors  say  that  a  penny  loaf  would  choke  a  whale.  The 
greater  proportion  of  its  food  consists  of  a  little  creature, 
about  an  inch  and  a  half  long,  called  Clio  borealis,  one  of 
the  marine  Mollusca,  belonging  to  the  class  Pteropida,  or 
wing-footed  creatures,  so  called  because  it  propels  itself 
through  the  water  with  two  wing-like  organs.  The  Whale, 
when  it  wishes  to  feed,  rushes  through  the  water  with  its 
immense  jaws  wide  open,  inclosing  a  host  of  little  sea  ani- 
mals and  a  few  hogsheads  of  water.  As  the  Whale  only 
wants  the  animals,  and  not  the  water,  it  shuts  its  mouth 
and  drives  all  the  water  out  through  the  fringes  of  whale- 
bone, leaving  the  little  creatures  in  its  jaws. 

The  Whale  shows  great  attachment  to  its  young,  which 
is  called  the  cub,  and  on  the  approach  of  danger  seizes  it 
with  its  fin  or  flipper,  and  carries  it  down  out  of  danger. 
The  Whale  has  no  fins,  properly  so  called,  as  it  is  not  a 
fish,  but  one  of  the  mammalia.  Its  flippers,  which  supply 
the  place  of  fins,  are  in  fact  fore-legs,  furnished  with  a 
kind  of  hand  covered  with  a  thick  skin.  They  seem  to  be 
principally  employed  in  balancing  the  animal.  The  hind- 
legs  are  wanting.  The  length  of  this  Whale  averages  sixty 
feet.  Its  tail  is  placed  transversely,  and  not  vertically,  as 
in  the  fishes. 

The  Spermaceti  Whale  is  not  furnished  with  "  baleen,'; 
or  whalebone,  but  is  armed  with  a  number  of  strong  coni- 
cal teeth,  which  are  placed  in  the  lower  jaw,  and  which 
are  often  used  in  defending  itself  from  the  attacks  of  the 


■  ■ 


m 


1 1 


g— Natural  Ilistor] 


70  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

whalers'  boats.  In  the  Oxford  Museum  is  an  under  jaw- 
bone of  this  Whale,  sixteen  feet  in  length,  containing  forty- 
eight  huge  teeth.  Besides  this  method  of  defense,  it  has  a 
very  unpleasant  habit  of  swimming  off  to  a  distance,  and 
then  rushing  at  the  boat  with  its  head,  thereby  knocking 
it  to  pieces.  One  of  these  Whales  actually  sank  a  ship  by 
three  or  four  blows  from  its  head. 

Spermaceti  is  obtained  from  the  head  of  the  Wliale,  and 
it  is  this  substance  that  causes  the  immense  size  of  the 
head.  When  killed,  a  hole  is  made  in  the  upper  part  of 
the  head,  and  the  spermaceti  is  baled  out  with  buckets. 
When  just  procured  it  is  almost  fluid,  but  is  rendered 
solid  and  transparent  by  being  first  drained  of  its  oil,  then 
boiled  in  water,  and  lastly  set  to  cool  in  wide  pans,  where 
it  soon  assumes  the  white,  flaky  appearance  so  well  known 
in  this  country.  The  skull  occupies  but  a  small  portion 
of  the  head,  the  huge  mass  at  the  end  of  the  mouth  being 
composed  of  a  gristly  kind  of  substance.  The  bone  of  the 
upper  jaw  occupies  about  one-fourth  of  the  distance  be- 
tween the  mouth  and  the  top  of  the  snout.  It  runs  back- 
wards nearly  straight  until  just  before  the  eyes,  when  it 
joins  the  remainder  of  the  skull  with  a  bold  sweep.  That 
part  of  the  skull  is  called  "  Neptune's  Chair  "  by  the  sail- 
ors, and  is  the  part  where  the  spermaceti  is  found.  The 
la}rer  of  blubber  is  thin,  but  yields  a  fine  and  valuable 
oil.  Ambergris,  so  long  a  riddle  to  all  inquirers,  is  now 
found  to  be  produced  in  the  interior  of  this  Whale.  This 
substance  is  of  the  consistency  of  wax,  inflammable,  and 
gives  out  a  kind  of  musky  odor.  It  was  once  in  great  re- 
pute as  a  medicine,  but  is  now  only  used  as  a  perfume. 

Although  an  inhabitant  of  the  Arctic  seas,  it  has  some- 
times been  found  and  captured  off  the  English  coasts. 
The  length  of  this  Whale  is  about  seventy  feet. 

Those  readers  who  have  formed  their  ideas  of  Dolphins 
from  the  very  graceful  and  elegant  creatures  represented 


S^-vW.f^SSPV'Wv 


*'lfllll 


.Ml 


, 


72  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

under  that  name  in  the  pictures  of  the  "old  masters,"  will 
find  that  the  real  animal  differs  greatly  from  the  ideal. 
Almost  the  whole  history  of  the  Dolphin  is  imaginary — ■ 
very  poetical,  but  very  untrue.  Our  Dolphin,  when  we 
have  harpooned  and  brought  him  on  deck,  is  only  black 
and  white,  and  all  the  change  that  he  makes  is  that  the 
black  becomes  brown  in  time,  and  the  white  changes  to 
gray. 

The  creature  that  really  displays  colors  when  dying  is 
a  fish  called  the  Coryphene.  The  sailors  generally  call  it 
the  Dolphin,  which  has  led  to  the  mistake.  The  Dolphin 
is,  like  the  Whale,  a  warm-blooded  animal,  suckles  its 
young,  and  is  forced  to  come  to  the  surface  in  order  to 
breathe.  Its  snout  is  very  long,  and  is  apparently  used 
for  capturing  such  fish  and  other  animals  as  live  in  the 
mud.  The  length  is  from  six  to  ten  feet.  Several  species 
are  known. 

Porpoises  may  be  observed  in  plenty  playing  their  ab- 
surd antics  off  every  coast  of  America.  They  frequent  the 
mouths  of  rivers,  because  the}'-  find  more  food  there  than 
in  the  open  sea.  They  tumble  at  the  surface  of  the  water 
for  the  purpose  of  breathing. 

In  the  olden  times,  when  glass  windows  were  consid- 
ered a  luxury,  and  rushes  supplied  the  place  of  carpets, 
the  flesh  of  the  Porpoise  constituted  one  of  the  delicacies 
of  a  feast,  but  it  has  long  since  been  deposed  from  rank  at 
the  table.     Its  flesh  has  a  very  strong,  oily  flavor. 

The  Porpoise  feeds  on  various  fishes,  but  its  great  feasts 
are  held  when  the  periodical  shoals  of  herrings,  pilchards, 
and  other  fish  arrive  on  the  coasts.  In  the  pursuit  of  its 
prey,  it  frequently  ventures  some  distance  up  a  river,  and 
is  then  often  taken  in  nets  by  the  fishermen. 

Its  teeth  are  numerous,  and  interlock  when  the  jaws  are 
closed,  so  that  the  fish  when  once  seized  cannot  escape. 
Its  length  is  about  five  feet;  its  color  a  rich  black,  be- 
coming white  on  the  under  side. 


RODENTIA.  73 

The  Narwhal  unwittingly  contributed  to  propagate  a 
very  old  error.  Its  spiral  tusk  used  to  be  sold  as  the  real 
horn  of  the  unicorn  ;  and  as  an  accredited  part  of  that 
animal,  forming  direct  proof  of  its  existence,  it  used  to 
fetch  a  high  price.  When  the  Whale  fishery  was  estab- 
lished, the  real  owner  of  the  horn  was  discovered,  and  the 
unicorn  left  still  enveloped  in  mystery. 

The  Narwhal  possesses  two  tusks,  one  on  each  side  of  its 
head.  Only  the  left  tusk  projects,  the  other  remaining 
within  the  head.  Sometimes  a  specimen  has  been  found 
with  both  tusks  projecting,  and  some  think  that  when  the 
left  tusk  has  been  broken  off  by  accident,  the  right  one  be- 
comes large  enough  to  supply  its  place.  Although  an  in- 
habitant of  the  northern  seas,  it  has  several  times  visited 
English  coasts.  Its  body  is  from  thirty  to  forty  feet  in 
length,  and  its  tusk  from  five  to  nine. 

The  Rodentia,  or  gnawing  animals,  are  so  called  from 
their  habit  of  gnawing  through,  or  paring  away,  the  sub- 
stances on  which  they  feed.  For  this  purpose  their  teeth 
are  admirably  formed,  and  by  these  teeth  it  is  always 
easy  to  ascertain  a  member  of  the  Rodents.  They  have 
none  of  those  sharp  teeth  called  canine,  such  as  are  seen 
in  the  Lions  and  in  those  animals  which  seize  and  destroy 
living  animals,  but  in  the  front  of  each  jaw  there  are  two 
long,  flat  teeth,  slightly  curved,  and  having  a  kind  of  chisel- 
edge  for  rasping  away  wood  or  other  articles. 

The  constant  labor  which  these  teeth  undergo  would 
rapidly  wear  them  away.  To  counteract  this  loss,  the 
teeth  are  constantly  growing  and  being  pushed  forward, 
so  that  as  fast  as  the  upper  part  is  worn  away  the  tooth  is 
replenished  from  below.  So  constant  is  this  increase  that, 
when  an  unfortunate  rabbit  or  other  rodent  has  lost  one 
of  its  incisors,  the  opposite  one,  meeting  nothing  to  stop 
its  progress,  continually  grows,  until  sometimes  the  tooth 
curls  upwards  over  the  lips  and  prevents  the  wretched 
animal  from  eating,  until  it.  is  gradually  starved  to  death, 


74  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

The  Brown  Rat,  sometimes  called  the  Norway  Rat,  is 
the  species  usually  found  in  England  and  America.  It 
was  imported  into  England  and  from  thence  here,  and 
from  its  superior  size,  strength,  and  ferocity,  has  com- 
pletely established  itself  and  expelled  the  original  Black 
Rat, 

It  is  at  all  times  difficult  to  get  rid  of  these  dirty,  noisy 
animals,  for  they  soon  learn  to  keep  out  of  the  way  of 
traps,  and  if  they  are  poisoned  they  revenge  their  fate  by 
dying  behind  a  wainscot  or  under  a  plank  of  the  floor, 
and  make  the  room  uninhabitable.  There  are,  however, 
two  ways  recommended  to  attain  the  desired  object: 

Place  a  saucer  containing  meal  in  a  room  frequented  by 
Rats,  letting  them  have  free  access  to  it  for  several  days. 
They  will  then  come  to  it  in  great  force.  When  they  hav« 
thus  been  accustomed  to  feed  there  regularly,  mix  a  quan- 
tity of  jalap  with  the  meal,  and  put  it  in  the  accustomed 
place.  This  will  give  them  such  internal  tortures  that 
they  will  not  come  near  the  place  again. 

A  second  plan  is  to  mix  phosphorus  with  the  meal  and 
make  it  into  a  ball.  The  phosphorus  is  said  not  to  kill 
the  Rats,  but  to  afflict  them  with  such  a  parching  thirst 
that  they  rush  to  the  nearest  water  and  die  there.  By  this 
method  the  danger  of  their  dying  in  the  house  is  avoided. 

The  Common  Mouse  is  so  well  known  that  a  description 
of  its  form  and  size  is  useless.  It  almost  rivals  the  Rat  in 
its  attacks  upon  our  provisions,  and  is  quite  as  difficult  to 
extirpate.  It  brings  up  its  young  in  a  kind  of  nest,  and 
when  a  board  of  long  standing  is  taken  up  in  a  room,  it  is 
not  uncommon  to  find  under  it  a  Mouse's  nest,  composed 
of  rags,  string,  paper,  shavings,  and  everything  that  the 
ingenious  little  architect  can  scrape  together.  It  is  a  round 
mass,  looking  something  like  a  rag  ball  very  loosely  made. 
When  opened,  seven  or  eight  little  mice  will  probably  be 
found  in  the  interior — little,  pink,  transparent  creatures, 
sprawling  about  in  a  most  unmeaning  manner,  apparently 


SEA  VEK. 


'5 


greatly  distressed  at  the  sudden  cold  caused  by  the  open- 
ing of  their  nest. 

A  white  variety  of  Mouse  is  tolerably  common,  and  is 
usually  bred  in  cages.  As  it  is  very  tame  and  beautiful, 
it  is  in  some  repute  as  a  pet. 

The  Harvest  Mouse  is  very  much  smaller  than  the  or- 
dinary mouse.  Its  nest  is  raised  about  a  foot  from  the 
ground,  and  supported  on  two  or  three  straws.  It  is 
made  of  grass,  about  the  size  of  a  cricket-ball,  and  very 
compact. 

The  Water  Rat  is  common  on  banks  of  rivers,  brooks, 
etc.  I  have  watched  them  feeding,  and  never  saw  them 
eating  fish,  nor  found  fish-bones  inside  their  holes,  except 
when  a  kingfisher  had  taken  possession;  but  I  have  seen 
them  gnawing  the  bark  from  reeds,  which  they  completely 
strip,  leaving  the  mark  of  each  tooth  as  they  proceed. 

North  America  is  the  principal  country  where  the 
Beaver  is  found,  but  it  is  also  common  on  the  Euphrates, 
and  along  the  Rhone  and  the  Danube. 

The  houses  of  the  Beaver  are  built  of  mud,  stones,  and 
sticks.  They  are  placed  in  a  stream,  and  their  entrance  is 
always  below  the  surface.  As  a  severe  frost  would  freeze 
up  their  doors,  it  is  necessary  to  make  the  stream  deep 
enough  to  prevent  the  frost  from  reaching  the  entrances. 
This  object  is  attained  by  building  a  dam  across  the  river, 
to  keep  back  the  water  until  it  is  sufficiently  deep  for  the 
Beaver's  purposes.  The  dam  is  made  of  branches,  which 
the  Beaver  cuts  down  with  its  strong,  sharp  teeth,  and  mud 
and  stones  worked  in  among  the  branches.  The  Beavers 
throw  these  branches  into  the  water,  and  sink  them  to  the 
bottom  by  means  of  stones,  and  by  continually  throwing 
in  fresh  supplies  a  strong  embankment  is  soon  made. 

As  many  Beavers  live  together  in  one  society,  the  forma- 
tion of  a  dam  does  not  take  very  long.  By  their  united 
efforts  they  rapidly  fell  even  large  trees,  by  gnawing  them 
round  the  trunk,  and  always  take  care  to  make  them  fall 


76  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

towards  the  water,  so  that  they  can  transport  the  logs 
easily.  The  mud  and  stones  used  in  their  embankments 
are  not  carried  on  their  tails,  as  some  say,  nor  do  the 
Beavers  use  their  tails  as  trowels  for  laying  on  the  mud, 
the  fact  being  that  the  stones  and  mud  are  carried  between 
their  chin  and  fore-paws,  and  the  mistake  respecting  the 
tail  is  evidently  caused  b}^  the  slap  that  Beavers  give  with 
that  member  when  they  dive.  In  order  that  their  pond 
may  not  be  too  deep  they  always  leave  an  opening  in  the 
dam  to  let  the  water  escape  when  it  rises  above  a  certain 
height. 

During  the  severe  winter  their  mud-built  houses  freeze 
quite  hard,  and  prevent  the  Wolverine,their  greatest  enemy, 
except  man,  from  breaking  through  and  devouring  the  in- 
mates. Every  year  the  Beavers  lay  a  fresh  coating  of  mud 
upon  their  houses,  so  that  after  the  lapse  of  a  few  years 
the  walls  of  the  house  are  several  feet  in  thickness.  Many 
of  the  houses  are  built  close  together,  but  no  two  families 
can  communicate  with  each  other  except  by  diving  below 
the  walls  and  rising  inside  their  neighbors'  houses. 

When  in  captivity  the  Beaver  soon  becomes  tame,  and 
will  industriously  build  dams  across  the  corner  of  a  room 
with  brushes,  boots,  fire-irons,  books,  or  anything  it  can 
find.  When  its  edifice  is  finished,  it  sits  in  the  centre,  ap- 
parently satisfied  that  it  has  made  a  beautiful  structure 
to  dam  up  the  river — a  proof  that  the  ingenuity  of  the 
Beaver  is  not  caused  by  reason,  but  by  instinct. 

Its  fur  consists  of  a  fine  wool  intermixed  with  long  and 
stiff  hairs.  The  hairs  are  useless,  but  the  peculiar  con- 
struction of  the  fur  causes  it  to  penetrate  and  fix  itself  into 
the  felt  which  forms  the  body  of  a  hat.  In  making  the 
hat,  the  only  method  required  to  fasten  the  fur  into  the  felt 
is  to  knead  the  fur  and  felt  together.  The  hair  is  toothed 
on  its  surfaces,  and  makes  its  way  into  the  felt,  just  as  an 
awn  of  barley  will  travel  all  over  the  body  if  placed  up 
the  sleeve.     The  length  of  the  Beaver  is  about  3£  feet. 


Beaveks  at  Wokk 


en  ) 


78  NATURAL  HISTORY, 

The  Porcupine  is  found  in  America,  Africa,  Tartary, 
Persia,  India  and  some  parts  of  Europe.  It  lives  in  holes 
which  it  digs  in  the  ground,  and  only  comes  forth  at  night 
to  feed.  It  eats  vegetable  substances  only,  such  as  roots, 
bark  and  other  similar  substances.  The  array  of  spines 
or  quills  with  which  this  animal  is  covered  forms  its  prin- 
cipal means  of  defense.  If  it  cannot  escape,  it  suddenly 
stops,  erects  all  its  quills  and  runs  backwards  against  its 
adversary,  striking  the  quills  against  him  by  the  weight 
of  its  body.  Occasionally  a  looser  quill  than  usual  re- 
mains in  the  wound  or  falls  on  the  ground,  which  evi- 
dently gave  rise  to  the  foolish  error  that  the  Porcupine 
could  dart  its  weapons  at  its  adversary  from  a  distance. 
There  are  two  kinds  of  these  quills — one  kind  long  and 
curved,  the  other  short,  thick  and  pointed.  These  last  are 
the  weapons  of  defense,  as  the  former  are  too  slender  to  do 
much  service.  When  it  walks  its  quills  make  a  kind  of 
rustling  sound,  caused  principally  by  those  arranged  on 
the  tail,  which  are  large,  hollow,  and  supported  on  large, 
slender  stalks. 

The  Indians  use  the  quills  for  ornamenting  various  parts 
of  their  dress,  especially  their  moccasins  or  skin  shoes. 
The  length  of  the  Porcupine  is  about  two  feet,  and  its 
spines  or  quills  are  from  six  to  fourteen  inches  long. 

The  Capybara  is  the  largest  of  all  the  Rodentia.  At 
first  sight  it  looks  ATery  like  a  pig,  and  its  skin  is  covered 
thinly  with  hairs  like  bristles,  which  add  to  the  resem- 
blance. It  inhabits  the  borders  of  lakes  and  rivers  in  many 
parts  of  South  America.  During  the  day  it  hides  among 
the  thick  herbage  of  the  banks,  only  wandering  forth  to 
feed  at  night,  but  when  alarmed  it  instantly  makes  for  the 
water,  and  escapes  by  diving.  It  is  hunted  for  the  sake 
of  its  flesh,  which  is  said  to  be  remarkably  good.  The 
food  of  the  Capybara  consists  of  grass,  vegetables  and 
fruits.     Its  length  is  about  forty-two  inches. 

The  Guinea-pig  was  originally  brought  from   South 


80  NATURAL  HISTORY 

America.  Its  beauty  is  its  only  recommendation,  as  it 
shows  little  intelligence  and  is  never  used  for  food. 
Children  are  fond  of  keeping  them,  as  they  are  wonder- 
fully prolific,  easy  to  manage  and  do  not  make  much 
noise.  They  are  supposed  to  keep  off  rats,  and  are  there- 
fore patronized  in  connection  with  rabbit-hutches. 

The  Hare  is  one  of  our  most  common  quadrupeds. 
When  full-grown  it  is  larger  than  the  Rabbit  and  exceed- 
ingly like  that  animal.  But  its  color  is  slightly  different, 
and  the  black  spot  on  the  extremity  of  its  ears  is  a  simple 
method  of  distinguishing  it.  It  does  not  burrow  like  the 
Rabbit,  but  makes  a  kind  of  nest  of  grass  and  other  mate- 
rials. In  this  nest,  called  a  "  form,"  the  Hare  lies,  crouch- 
ing to  the  ground,  its  ears  laid,  along  its  back,  and  trusting 
to  its  concealment,  will  often  remain  quiet  until  the  foot 
of  an  intruder  almost  touches  it. 

Innumerable  foes  besides  man  surround  this  animal. 
Foxes,  ferrets,  stoats  and  all  their  tribe  are  unmerciful 
enemies,  and  sometimes  a  large  hawk  will  destroy  a  leveret, 
as  the  young  Hare  is  called.  Although  destitute  of  all 
means  of  defense,  it  often  escapes  by  the  quickness  of  its 
hearing  and  sight,  which  give  it  timely  warning  of  the 
approach  of  an  enemy. 

In  cold  countries  it  changes  its  fur  during  winter,  and 
becomes  white,  like  the  Arctic  Fox  and  the  Ermine. 

The  Rabbit  is  smaller  than  the  Hare,  but  closely  re- 
sembles it  in  form.  It  lives  in  deep  holes,  which  it  digs 
in  the  ground.  The  female  Rabbit  forms  a  soft  nest  at  the 
bottom  of  her  burrow,  composed  of  fur  torn  from  her  body, 
of  hay  and  dried  leaves.  Here  the  young  Rabbits  are  kept 
until 'they  are  strong  enough  to  shift  for  themselves  and 
make  their  own  burrows.  The  tame  Rabbit  is  only  a 
variety  rendered  larger  by  careful  feeding  and  attend- 
ance. 

The  Gerboas  are  celebrated  for  their  powers  of  leaping. 
Their  long;  hind-legs  enable  them  to  take  enormous  springs, 


SQUIRREL.  81 

during  which  their  tails  serve  to  balance  them.     Indeed  a 
Gerboa  when  deprived  of  his  tail  is  afraid  to  leap. 

In  the  history  of  the  Polar  Bear  it  was  mentioned  that 
its  feet  were  prevented  from  slipping  on  the  ice  by  a  coat- 
ing of  thick  hair.  The  foot  of  the  Gerboa  is  defended  in 
the  same  manner  by  long,  bristly  hairs,  which  gives  the 
creature  a  firm  hold  of  the  ground  for  its  spring,  and  also 
defends  the  foot  from  the  burning  soil  on  which  it  lives. 

It  is  very  timid,  and  on  the  slightest  alarm  rushes  to  its 
burrow,  but  if  intercepted  skims  away  over  the  plain  with 
such  rapidity  that  it  seems  to  fly,  and  when  at  full  speed 
a  swift  greyhound  can  scarcely  overtake  it. 

Grain  and  bulbous  loots  are  its  chief  food  ;  while  eating 
it  holds  the  food  with  its  fore  paws  and  sits  upright  on  its 
haunches,  like  the  Squirrels  and  Marmots. 

The  Dormouse  is  common  in  all  the  warmer  parts  of 
Europe.  It  lives  in  copses  and  among  brushwood,  through 
which  it  makes  its  way  with  sach  rapidity  that  it  is  very 
difficult  to  capture.  During  the  winter  it  lies  torpid,  but 
takes  care  to  have  a  stock  of  food  laid  up,  on  which  it 
feeds  during  the  few  interruptions  to  its  slumbers.  A 
warm  day  in  winter  will  usually  rouse  it,  but  during  the 
cold  weather  it  lies  rolled  up,  with  its  tail  curled  round 
its  body.  While  in  this  state  a  sudden  exposure  to  heat 
kills  it,  but  a  gentle  warmth,  such  as  holding  it  in  the 
hand,  rouses  it  without  injury.  It  lives  principally  on 
haw,  acorns  and  grain.  It  brings  up  its  young  in  a  nest 
composed  of  leaves  and  hay,  and  seems  to  be  iond  of 
society  in  its  household  labors,  as  ten  or  twelve  nests  have 
been  seen  close  to  each  other. 

The  Squirrel  is  a  very  common  animal  in  woods,  where 
aumbers  may  be  seen  frisking  about  on  the  branches,  or 
•mining  up  and  down  the  trunks.  If  alarmed  it  spring*} 
up  the  tree  and  hides  behind  a  branch.  By  this  trick  it 
escapes  its  enemy  the  hawk,  and  by  constantly  slipping 
oehind  the  large  branches,  frequently  tires  him  out.     The 


32  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

activity  and  daring  of  this  little  animal  are  extraordinary. 
vVhen  pursued  it  makes  the  most  astonishing  leaps  from 
branch  to  branch,  or  from  tree  to  tree,  and  has  apparently 
some  method  of  altering  its  direction  while  in  the  air,  pos 
sibly  by  means  of  its  tail  acting  as  a  rudder. 

It  is  easily  domesticated,  and  is  very  amusing  in  its 
habits  when  suffered  to  go  at  large  in  a  room  or  kept  in  a 
spacious  cage ;  but  when  confined  in  one  of  the  cruel 
wheel  cages  its  energies  and  playfulness  are  quite  lost. 
Men  often  go  about  with  squirrels  for  sale,  and  generally 
cheat  those  who  buy  them.  They  try  to  sell  old  squirrels 
for  young,  but  this  imposition  may  be  detected  by  look- 
ing at  the  teeth  of  the  animal,  which  are  nearly  white  if 
young,  but  if  old  are  of  a  light  yellow.  The  purchaser 
should  beware  of  very  tame  and  quiet  squirrels.  These 
are  generally  animals  just  caught  and  perfectly  wild,  but 
made  sedate  by  a  dose  of  opium. 

Its  color  is  a  deep  reddish  brown,  and  its  tail  so  large 
and  bushy  as  to  shade  its  whole  body  when  carried  curled 
over  its  back. 

The  Ruininanti,  or  those  animals  that  chew  the  cud. 
include  the  oxen,  sheep  and  goats,  deer,  giraffe  and  camels. 
They  have  a  peculiar  construction  of  stomach,  which 
receives  the  freshly-gathered  food,  retains  it  for  some 
hours,  and  then  passes  it  back  into  the  mouth  to  be  re- 
masticated. 

The  Ox  is  spread  widely  over  the  earth,  scarcely  any 
country  being  without  its  peculiar  breed.  In  England, 
where  it  is  the  most  useful  domesticated  animal,  there  are 
many  breeds,  generally  distinguished  by  the  length  or 
shape  of  their  horns.  There  is  the  "  lons:-b~>rned  breed," 
the  "short-horned,"  the  "middle-horned"  and  the 
"  polled  "  or  hornless  breed.  Each  of  these  breeds  has  its 
peculiar  value :  some  fatten  easily,  and  are  kept  especially 
for  the  butcher;  others  give  milk,  and  are  valuable  for  the 
dairy.     The  best  dairy  cow  is  the  Alderney,  a  small,  short- 


MSOJS.  82 

horned  animal,  furnishing  very  rich  milk.  The  Texas  cat- 
tle are  descended,  from  Spanish  stock. 

In  some  parts  of  America  oxen  are  used  to  draw  wagons, 
or  to  drag  the  plow.  They  are  not  so  strong  as  horses,  and 
their  movements  are  much  slower. 

Every  part  of  the  Ox  is  of  value.  We  eat  his  flesh,  we 
wear  shoes  soled  with  his  skin,  our  candles  are  made  from 
his  fat,  our  tables  are  joined  with  glue  made  from  his 
hoofs,  his  hair  is  mixed  with  the  mortar  of  our  walls,  his 
horns  are  made  into  combs,  knife-handles,  drinking-cups, 
etc.,  his  bunes  are  used  as  a  cheap  substitute  for  ivory  and 
the  fragments  ground  and  scattered  over  the  fields  as  ma- 
nure, and  soup  is  made  from  his  tail. 

The  young  Ox  is  called  a  calf,  and  is  quite  as  useful  in 
its  way  as  the  full-grown  Ox.  The  flesh  is  termed  veal,  and 
by  many  preferred  to  the  flesh  of  the  Ox  or  Cow,  which  is 
called  beef;  jelly  is  made  from  its  feet.  The  stomach  is 
salted  and  dried,  and  is  named  rennet.  Cheese  is  made 
by  soaking  a  piece  of  rennet  in  water  and  pouring  it  into  a 
vessel  of  milk.  The  milk  soon  forms  a  curd,  which  is 
placed  in  a  press,  and  the  watery  substance,  called  whey, 
squeezed  from  it.  The  curd  is  colored  and  salted,  and  is 
then  cheese. 

The  Cape  Buffalo  is  a  native  of  South  Africa.  It  is  ex- 
ceedingly ferocious  and  cunning,  often  lurking  among  the 
trees  until  an  unsuspecting  teiveller  approaches,  and  then 
rushing  on  him  and  destroying  him.  The  ferocious  creat- 
ure is  not  content  with  killing  its  victim,  but  stands  over 
him,  mangling  him  with  its  horns  and  stamping  on  him 
with  its  feet. 

The  Bison  is  a  native  of  Europe  and  North  America. 
They  have  short  horns,  which  are  curved  inward  at  the 
point.  They  are  distinguished  from  the  Ox  by  long  woolly 
or  shaggy  hair,  which  covers  the  neck  and  shoulders  of 
the  males. 

The  American  Bison  is  known  by  the  incorrect  name  of 


81 


NATURAL    HISTORY. 


Buffalo.  This  is  the  only  species  of  the  Ox  family  indige- 
nous, to  America,  except  the  Musk  Ox.  It  is  similar  to 
the  European  Bison,  but  the  fore-parts  are  more  shaggy, 
and  it  is  a  powerful  and  ferocius-looking  animal,  which 
no  American  beast  can  overcome  or  resist,  except  the 
Grizzly  Bear.  The  color  of  its  hair  is  mostly  brown.  In 
former  years  vast  herds  of  Bisons  roamed  over  the  plains 
and  prairies  between  the  Mississippi  Eiver  and  the  Kocky 
Mountains,  feeding  on  grass  and  brushwood.  They  are 
generally  inoffensive,  and  will  not  attack  men,  but  prefer 
to  run  rather  than  to  fight.  During  their  migration  they 
move  in  enormous  herds,  which  are  innumerable  and  ir- 
resistible. Their  hides  are  valuable,  and  under  the  name 
of  buffalo  robes  are  an  important  article  of  commerce.  The 
bisons  are  swift  in  running,  and  have  so  keen  a  sense  of 
smell  that  the  hunter  cannot  easily  approach  near  enough 
to  shoot  them.  The  Indians  circumvent  them  by  setting 
fire  to  the  prairie-grass  on  several  sides,  and  thus  driving 
them  in  confusion  towards  a  central  position.  They  also 
drive  them  over  precipices  in  large  herds,  the  momen- 
tum of  which  is  such  that  the  leaders  cannot  stop  or  re- 
treat, being  forced  forward  by  the  mass  behind  them.  The 
chase  of  Bisons  is  attended  with  some  danger,  as  they 
sometimes  turn  upon  an  assailant,  who  is  liable  to  be 
trampled  under  the  feet  of  the  herd.  Numerous  tribes  of 
Aborigines  are  mainly  dependent  on  the  Bison  for  their 
food  and  clothing.  Their  skins,  which  are  covered  with 
soft  hair  or  fur,  are  much  used  for  blankets,  and  their 
flesh  and  fat  are  converted  into  pemmican, the  favorite  food 
of  the  fur-hunters  and  voyageurs  of  North  America.  The 
Bison  differs  from  the  true  Buffaloes  in  having  a  hump 
upon  the  back,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  dewlap,  which 
is  small  in  the  Buffaloe*s.  The  Buffaloes  have  cavities  in 
their  horns  communicating  with  the  nasal  passage,  the 
Bison  has  not;  the  ho7*ns  turn  outward  in  the  true  Buffa- 
loes, and  inward  in  the  Bisons. 


YAK. 


85 


The  flesh  of  the  Bison  is  tolerable  eating,  but  the  "  hump  " 
appears  to  be  unapproachable  in  delicacy.  It  is  very  ten- 
der, and  possesses  the  property  of  not  clo}dng  even  when 
eaten  in  excess.    The  fat  is  also  said  to  be  devoid  of  that 


The  American  Bison. 


sickening  richness  which  is  usually  met  with  in  our  do- 
mesticated animals. 

The  cow  is  smaller  than  the  bull  and  considerably 
swifter.  She  is  also  generally  in  better  condition  and  fat- 
ter than  her  mate,  and  in  consequence  the  hunters  who  go 
to  "get  meat "  always  select  the  cows  from  the  herd. 

The  Yak  inhabits  Tartary.  Of  this  animal  in  a  native 
state  little  is  known.  The  name  of"  grunniens,"  or  grunt- 
ing, is  derived  from  the  peculiar  sound  that  it  utters.  The 
tail  of  the  Yak  is  very  long  and  fine,  and  is  used  in  India 
as  a  fan  or  whisk  to  keep  off  the  mosquitoes.  The  tail  is 
fixed  into  an  ivory  or  metal  handle,  and  is  then  called  a 

6 — Natural  History 


86  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

chowrie.  Elephants  are  sometimes  taught  to  carry  a  chow* 
rie,  and  wave  it  about  in  the  air  above  the  heads  of  those 
who  ride  on  its  back.  In  Turkey  the  tail  is  called  a 
"  horse-tail,"  and  is  used  as  an  emblem  of  dignity. 

From  the  shoulders  of  the  Yak  a  mass  of  long  hair  falls 
almost  to  the  ground,  something  like  the  mane  of  a  Lion. 
This  hair  is  applied  to  various  purposes  by  the  Tartars. 
They  weave  it  into  cloth,  of  which  they  not  only  make  ar- 
ticles of  dress,  but  also  tents,  and  even  the  ropes  which 
sustain  the  tents. 

The  Gnoo,  or  Wildebeest,  inhabits  Southern  Africa.  At 
first  sight  it  is  difficult  to  say  whether  the  horse,  buffalo 
or  deer  predominates  in  its  form.  It  belongs  to  neither 
of  these  animals,  but  is  one  of  the  bovine  Antelopes.  The 
horns  cover  the  top  of  the  forehead,  and  then,  sweeping 
downwards  over  the  face,  turn  boldly  upwards  with  a 
sharp  curve.  The  neck  is  furnished  with  a  mane  like  that 
of  the  horse,  and  the  legs  are  formed  like  those  of  the  stag. 
It  is  a  very  swift  animal,  and  when  provoked  very  dan- 
gerous. When  it  attacks  an  opponent  it  drops  on  its 
knees,  and  then  springs  forward  with  such  force  that,  un- 
less he  is  extremely  active,  he  cannot  avoid  its  shock. 

When  it  is  taken  young,  the  Gnoo  can  be  domesticated, 
and  brought  up  with  other  cattle,  but  it  will  not  bear  con- 
finement, and  is  liable  to  become  savage  under  restraint. 

There  are  several  species  of  this  animal,  the  Common 
Gnoo,  the  Cocoon  and  the  Brindled  Gnoo. 

The  size  of  the  Gnoo  is  about  that  of  a  well-grown  Ass. 
Its  flesh  is  in  great  repute  both  among  the  natives  and 
colonists. 

The  Koodoo  is  a  native  of  South  Africa,  living  along  the 
wooded  borders  of  rivers.  It  is  noted  for  its  beautifully- 
shaped  horns,  which  are  about  four  feet  in  length  and 
twisted  into  a  large  spiral  of  about  two  turns  and  a  half. 
A  bold  ridge  runs  along  the  horns  and  follows  their  curva- 
ture.    When  hard  pressed  it  always  takes  to  the  water,  and 


mm'" 

lIlIilllB  era 


'->'-     I  M{ 


88  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

endeavors  to  escape  by  its  powers  of  swimming.  Although 
a  large  animal,  nearly  four  feet  in  height,  it  can  leap  with 
wonderful  activity.  The  weight  of  the  horns  is  very  con- 
siderable, and  partly  to  relieve  itself  of  that  weight,  and 
partly  to  guard  them  from  entanglement  in  the  bushes 
among  which  it  lives  and  on  which  it  feeds,  it  carries  its 
head  backwards,  so  that  the  horns  rest  on  its  shoulders. 

The  Gazelle  inhabits  Arabia  and  Syria.  Its  eyes  are 
very  large,  dark  and  lustrous,  so  that  the  Oriental  poets 
love  to  compare  the  eyes  of  a  woman  to  those  of  a  gazelle. 
It  is  easily  tamed  when  young,  and  is  often  seen  in  the 
courtyards  of  houses  in  Syria.  Its  swiftness  is  so  great 
that  even  a  greyhound  can  not  overtake  it,  and  the  hun- 
ters are  forced  to  make  use  of  hawks,  which  are  trained  to 
strike  at  the  head  of  the  Gazelle,  and  thus  confuse  it,  and 
retard  its  speed,  so  as  to  permit  the  dogs  to  come  up.  Its 
color  is  a  dark  yellowish  brown,  fading  into  white  on  the 
under  parts. 

The  Chamois  is  found  only  in  mountainous  regions, 
especially  the  Alpine  chains  of  Europe  and  Western  Asia, 
It  lives  on  the  loftiest  ridges,  displaying  wonderful  ac- 
tivity, and  leaping  with  certainty  and  security  on  places 
where  the  eye  can  hardly  discern  room  for  its  feet.  The 
skin  of  the  Chamois  is  used  extensively  by  shoemakers. 

The  Ibex  inhabits  the  Alpine  regions  of  Europe  and 
Western  Asia.  It  is  recognized  by  its  magnificent  horns, 
which  curve  with  a  bold  sweep  from  the  head  almost  to 
the  haunches.  The  horns  are  surrounded  at  regular  in- 
tervals with  rings,  and  are  immensely  strong,  serving,  as 
some  say,  to  break  the  fall  of  the  Ibex  when  it  makes  a 
leap  from  a  height.  Its  height  is  thirty  inches ;  the  length 
of  its  horns  often  three  feet. 

The  Goat  is  not  in  much  request  in  America,  but  in 
Syria  and  Switzerland  large  herds  of  them  are  kept  for 
the  sake  of  their  milk.  They  almost  entirely  take  the 
place  of  the  Cow,    The  most  celebrated  variety  of  this 


GIRAFFE.  #3 

animal  is  the  Cashmir  goat,  which  furnishes  the  beauti- 
fully fine  wool  from  which  the  costly  Cashmir  shawls  are 
made. 

There  are  many  kinds  of  Sheep,  among  which  the 
Common  Sheep,  the  Long-Tailed  Sheep  and  the  Wallachian 
Sheep  are  the  most  conspicuous.  Next  to  the  Cow,  the 
Sheep  is  our  most  useful  animal.  California  produces 
better  wool  than  any  country.  The  Spanish  Sheep  is  finer 
than  the  English,  but  it  is  much  less  in  quantity.  The 
Merino,  as  this  Sheep  is  called  in  Spain,  is  annually  con- 
ducted from  one  part  of  the  country  to  another,  and  back 
again.  The  distance  traversed  is  upwards  of  400  miles, 
about  six  or  seven  weeks  being  occupied  in  the  journey. 
The  proprietors  of  the  flocks  think  these  journeys  improve 
the  wool ;  probably  a  mistaken  notion,  as  the  stationary 
flocks  of  Leon  produce  quite  as  fine  a  fleece. 

The  Long-Tailed  Sheep  inhabits  Syria  and  Egypt.  Its 
tail  is  so  large  and  so  loaded  with  fat  that,  to  prevent  it 
from  being  injured  by  dragging  on  the  ground,  a  board  is 
fastened  to  the  under  side  of  it,  and  wheels  are  often 
attached  to  the  board.  The  peculiar  fat  of  the  tail  is  con- 
sidered a  great  delicacy,  and  is  so  soft  as  to  be  frequently 
used  as  butter.  The  weight  of  a  large  tail  is  about  70 
pounds. 

The  Wallachian  or  Cretan  Sheep  is  found  in  Crete,  Wal- 
lachia,  Hungary  and  Western  Asia.  Its  horns  are  exceed- 
ingly large,  and  are  twisted  in  a  manner  resembling  those 
of  the  Koodoo.  It  is  very  strong,  and  extremely  vicious 
and  unruly.  In  this  and  several  other  Sheep  the  fleece  is 
composed  of  wool  and  hair  mixed.  The  hair  of  the  Wal- 
lachian Sheep  is  long  and  silky,  like  that  of  a  spaniel,  and 
of  great  length,  falling  almost  to  the  ground. 

The  Giraffe  is  found  only  in  South  Africa.  As  the 
Gnoo  seems  to  combine  the  properties  of  the  Antelope, 
Horse  and  Buffalo,  so  the  Giraffe  appears  to  bear  the  char- 
acteristics of  the  Antelope  and  the  Camel.     Naturalists  say 


W  NATUHAL  HISTORY, 

it  holds  a  place  by  itself  between  the  Deer  and  Antelope. 
It  forms,  at  all  events,  a  group  to  which  no  other  animals 
belong. 

Its  height  varies  from  thirteen  to  eighteen  feet.  Its 
beautiful  long  neck  enables  it  to  browse  on  the  leaves  of 
the  trees  on  which  it  feeds.  It  is  very  dainty  while  feed- 
ing, and  plucks  the  leaves  one  by  one  with  its  flexible 
tongue.  On  its  head  are  two  projections,  closely  resem- 
bling horns.  They  are  not  horns,  but  only  thickenings 
of  the  bone  of  the  skull,  covered  with  skin,  and  bearing 
a  tuft  of  black  hair  at  the  extremity  of  each.  The  fore- 
legs at  first  sight  appear  longer  than  the  hind  ones,  but 
this  apparent  difference  is  only  caused  by  the  great  length 
of  the  shoulder-blades,  as  both  pair  of  legs  are  of  the 
same  length  at  their  junction  with  the  body.  Its  eyes  are 
very  large  and  prominent,  so  that  the  animal  can  see  on 
every  side  without  turning  its  head.  Just  over  and  be- 
tween the  eyes  is  a  third  bony  prominence,  resembling 
the  projecting  enlargements  of  the  skull,  called  horns. 
The  use  of  these  projections  is  not  very  well  known,  as 
although  in  play  the  Giraffe  will  swing  its  head  round 
and  strike"  with  it,  yet  when  it  wishes  to  repel  an  assailant 
it  has  recourse  to  violent  and  rapid  kicks  from  its  hind- 
legs.  So  light  and  swift  are  these  kicks  that  the  eye  can 
scarcely  follow  them,  and  so  powerful  are  they  that  the 
lion  is  often  driven  oft  by  them.  The  skin  cf  this  ani- 
mal is  an  inch  and  a  half  in  thickness,  so  that  it  is  neces- 
sary for  the  hunter  to  make  very  sure  of  his  aim  before 
he  fires  at  an  animal  so  well  defended. 

The  Giraffe  has  much  difficulty  in  reaching  the  ground 
with  its  mouth,  nor  does  it  often  attempt  to  do  so,  unless 
it  is  bribed  with  something  of  which  it  is  very  fond,  such 
as  a  lump  of  sugar.  It  then  straddles  widely  with  its  fore- 
legs, and  with  some  trouble  succeeds  in  reaching  the  object 
aimed  at. 

The  first  living  Giraffes,  in  the  possession  of  the  London 


91   ) 


92  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

Zoological  Society,  were  brought  in  1835.  M.  Thibaut 
succeeded  in  taking  four,  which  he  brought  with  him. 
One  of  them  is  still  living.  From  this  stock  several 
Giraffes  have  been  born,  some  of  which  are  still  in  Eng- 
land, and  others  have  been  sent  to  other  countries. 

Its  tongue  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  parts  of  its 
structure.  It  is  very  flexible  and  capable  of  great  changes 
of  form,  the  Giraffe  being  able  to  contract  it  so  that  its 
tip  could  enter  an  ordinary  quill.  The  animal  is  very 
fond  of  exercising  its  tongue,  and  sometimes  pulls  the 
hairs  from  its  companions'  manes  and  tails  and  swallows 
them — no  very  easy  feat,  as  the  hair  of  the  tail  is  often 
more  than  four  feet  long, 

The  movements  of  the  Giraffe  are  very  peculiar,  the 
limbs  of  each  side  appearing  to  act  together.  It  is  very 
swift,  and  can  outrun  a  horse,  especially  if  it  can  get 
among  broken  ground  and  rocks,  over  which  it  leaps  with 
a  succession  of  frog-like  hops. 

Those  born  and  bred  here  seem  healthy  and  are  exceed- 
ingly tame.  They  eat  herbs  such  as  grass,  hay,  carrots, 
and  onions.  When  cut  grass  is  given  to  them,  they  eat 
off  the  upper  parts  and  leave  the  coarse  stems,  just  as  we 
eat  asparagus. 

There  is  some  confusion  about  the  names  of  the  camels. 
The  Bactrian  Camel  is  distinguished  by  bearing  two 
humps  on  its  back,  the  Arabian  Camel  by  bearing  only 
one.  The  Arabian  is  sometimes  erroneously  called  the 
Dromedary;  but  the  Dromedary  is  a  lighter  variety  of 
that  animal,  and  only  used  when  dispatch  is  required. 

The  Camel  forms  the  principal  wealth  of  the  Arab; 
without  it  he  could  never  attempt  to  penetrate  the  vast 
deserts  where  it  lives,  as  its  remarkable  power  of  drinking 
at  one  draught  sufficient  water  to  serve  it  for  several  days 
enables  it  to  march  from  station  to  station  without  requir- 
ing to  drink  by  the  way.  The  peculiar  structure  of  its 
stomach  gives  it  this  most  useful  power.     In  its  stomach 


3i«£3Jb: 


94  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

are  a  great  number  of  deep  cells,  into  which  the  water 
passes,  and  is  then  prevented  from  escaping  by  a  muscle 
which  closes  the  mouth  of  the  cells.  When  the  camel 
feels  thirsty  it  has  the  power  of  casting  some  of  the  water 
contained  in  these  cells  into  its  mouth.  The  habits  of  this 
animal  are  very  interesting. 

The  foot  of  the  Camel  is  admirably  adapted  for  walking 
on  the  loose  sand,  being  composed  of  large,  elastic  pads, 
which  spread  as  the  foot  is  placed  on  the  ground.  To 
guard  it  from  injury  when  it  kneels  down  to  be  loaded, 
the  parts  of  the  body  on  which  its  weight  rests  are  defended 
by  thick  callosities.  The  largest  of  these  callosities  is  on 
the  chest,  the  others  are  placed  on  the  joints  of  the  legs. 

The  Bactrian  Camel  inhabits  Central  Asia  and  China. 

The  Llamas,  of  which  there  are  several  species,  inhabit 
South  America,  and  are  used  for  the  same  purposes  as  the 
Camel.  When  wild  they  are  very  timid,  and  fly  from  a 
pursuer  the  moment  that  they  see  him  ;  but  their  curiosity 
is  so  great  that  the  hunter  often  secures  them  by  lying  on 
the  ground  and  throwing  his  legs  and  arms  about.  The 
Llamas  come  to  see  what  the  extraordinary  animal  can 
be,  and  give  the  hunter  an  opportunity  of  firing  several 
shots,  which  the  astonished  animals  consider  as  part  of 
the  performance. 

The  Llamas,  like  the  Camels,  have  a  series  of  cells  in  the 
stomach  for  containing  water,  and  can  go  for  several  day? 
without  requiring  to  drink.  If  too  heavily  laden,  or  when 
they  are  weary,  they  lie  down,  and  no  punishment  wilJ 
induce  them  to  rise,  so  that  their  masters  are  forced  to 
unload  them.  When  offended  they  have  a  very  unpleas- 
ant habit  of  spitting  at  the  object  of  their  anger.  Theii 
saliva  is  not  injurious. 

Its  fleece  is  very  long,  resembling  silk  more  than  wool. 
It,  is  "very  valuable,  and  is  used  for  making  cloth  and  other 
fabrics.  The  fleece  of  the  Alpaca  is  considered  the  best, 
and  it  is  sometimes  twelve  inches  in  length  and  very  fine. 


■>. 


A  Family  of  Red  Deer. 


95 


9^  NATURAL  HISTORY 

In  Chili  and  Peru  the  natives  domesticate  the  Llama, 
which  in  a  state  of  captivity  frequently  becomes  white. 
It  is  by  no  means  a  large  animal,  as  it  measures  about  four 
feet  six  in  height.  In  general  shape  it  resembles  the  Camel, 
but  has  no  hump  on  its  back,  and  its  feet  are  provided 
with  sharp  hoofs  for  climbing  the  rocky  hills  among  which 
it  lives.  In  Peru,  where  it  is  most  commonly  found,  there 
are  public  shambles  established  for  the  sale  of  its  flesh. 

The  Red  Deer,  or  Stag,  is  the  largest  of  the  Deer.  In 
the  language  of  hunters  it  bears  different  names  according 
to  the  size  of  its  horns,  which  increase  year  by  year.  All 
the  male  Deer  have  horns,  which  they  shed  every  year  and 
renew  again.  The  process  of  renewal  is  most  interesting. 
A  skin,  filled  with  arteries,  covers  the  projections  on  which 
the  horns  rest.  This  skin,  called  the  "  velvet,"  is  engaged 
in  continually  depositing  bone  on  the  footstalks,  which 
rapidly  increase  in  size.  As  the  budding  horns  increase, 
the  velvet  increases  also,  and  the  course  of  the  arteries  is 
marked  on  the  horn  by  long  furrows,  which  are  never  ob- 
literated. When  the  horn  has  reached  its  full  growth  it 
cannot  be  at  once  used,  as  the  velvet  is  very  tender,  and 
would  bleed  profusely  if  wounded.  The  velvet  cannot  be 
suddenly  removed,  as  the  blood  that  formed  the  arteries 
would  rush  to  the  brain  and  destroy  the  animal.  A  ring 
of  bone  forms  round  the  root  of  each  horn,  leaving  pas- 
sages through  which  the  arteries  pass.  By  degrees  these 
passages  become  narrow,  and  finally  close  entirely,  thus 
gradually  shutting  off  the  blood.  The  velvet,  being  de- 
prived of  its  nourishment,  dies,  and  is  peeled  off  by  the 
Deer  by  rubbing  against  a  tree,  leaving  the  white,  hard 
horn  beneath. 

Hunting  the  Stag  is  a  favorite  amusement  in  Europe, 
and  packs  of  hounds,  called  Stag-hounds,  are  kept  ex- 
pressly for  that  purpose. 

The  Fallow-Deer  are  usually  seen  in  parks.  One 
large  buck  always  takes  the  lead,  and  suffers  none  but  a 


9 8  NATURAL  HISTORY, 

few  favorite  does  to  approach  his  regal  presence,  all  the 
other  bucks  moving  humbly  away  when  he  puts  in  an 
appearance.  They  are  generally  tame,  and  will  suffer 
people  to  come  very  close^to  them ;  but  at  a  certain  time 
of  the  year  they  become  savage,  and  will  not  permit  any 
one  to  approach  their  domains.  If  an  intruder  ventures 
within  the  proscribed  distance,  the  buck  will  instantly 
charge  upon  him.  They  soon  become  familiar  with  those 
who  treat  them  kindly,  and  will  eat  from  their  hands. 

The  Reindeer  is  found  throughout  the  Arctic  regions 
of  Europe,  Asia,  and  America.  The  finest  animals  are 
those  of  Lapland  and  Spitzbergen.  The  Laplander  finds 
his  chief  wealth  in  the  possession  of  the  Reindeer,  which 
not  only  serves  him  as  a  beast  of  burden,  but  furnishes 
him  with  food  and  clothing.  A  Laplander  in  good  cir- 
cumstances will  possess  about  three  hundred  deer,  which 
enable  him  to  live  in  comfort.  The  subsistence  of  one 
who  only  possesses  one  hundred  is  very  precarious,  and 
he  who  has  only  fifty  usually  joins  his  animals  with  the 
herd  of  some  richer  man,  and  takes  the  menial  labors 
upon  himself. 

The  Reindeer  feeds  principally  on  a  kind  of  lichen,  which 
it  scrapes  from  beneath  the  snow.  During  the  winter  its 
coat  thickens,  and  assumes  a  lighter  hue,  many  deer  being 
almost  white.  Its  hoofs  are  divided  very  high,  so  that 
when  the  animal  places  its  foot  upon  the  ground,  the 
hoof  spreads  wide,  and  as  it  raises  the  foot  a  snapping 
noise  is  heard,  caused  by  the  parts  of  the  hoof  closing  to- 
gether. When  harnessed  to  a  sledge  it  can  draw  800 
pounds'  weight  at  about  ton  miles  an  hour. 

The  European  Elk  inhabits  the  northern  parts  of  Eu- 
rope. It  was  considered  at  one  time  to  be  identical  with 
the  American  Elk,  but  naturalists  now  believe  it  to  be  a 
distinct  animal.  Its  usual  pace  is  a  high,  awkward  trot, 
but  when  frightened  it  sometimes  gallops.  In  Sweden  it 
was  formerly  used  to  draw  sledges,  but  on  account  of  the 


ELK. 


99 


great  facility  of  escape  offered  to  criminals  by  its  great 
speed,  the  use  of  it  was  forbidden  under  high  penalties. 


A  Family  of  Elk. 

The  skin  of  the  Elk  is  so  tough  that  a  regiment  of  soldiers 
was  furnished  with  waistcoats  made  of  its  hide,  which 
could  scarcely  be  penetrated  by  a  ball. 

Like  the  Reindeer,  the  Elk  makes  a  great  clattering  with 
its  hoofs  when  m  rapid   motion      Tt  is  a  good  swimmer 


100 


NATURAL  HIST0B7. 


and  is  fond  of  taking  to  the  water  in  summer  time.  It  is 
a  rather  dangerous  antagonist  when  incensed,  as  it  fights 
desperately  with  its  horns  and  hoofs.  It  has  been  known 
to  destroy  a  wolf  with  a  single  stroke  of  its  hoofs. 

We  now  arrive  at  the  Pachydermata,  or  thick-skinned 
animals  which  do  not  chew  the  cud.  The  first  on  the  list 
is  the  Horse,  an  animal  too  well  known  in  all  its  varieties 
to  need  much  description.  The  ancients  never  appeared 
to  ride  on  the  war  horse  to  battle,  but  fought  from  small 
open  chariots,  to  which  two  or  more  horses  were  harnessed. 

The  Arabian  Horse  is  a  model  of  elegance  and  beauty. 
The  Arab  treats  his  horse  as  one  of  the  family ;  it  lives  in 
the  same  tent  with  him,  eats  from  his  hand,  and  sleeps 
among  his  children,  who  tumble  about  on  it  without  the 
least  fear.  It  is  hard  to  induce  the  Arab  to  part  with  a 
favorite  horse. 

The  plains  of  La  Plata  and  Paraguay  are  tenanted  by 
vast  herds  of  wild  horses.  These  are  captured  by  the 
lasso,  bitted,  mounted,  and  broken  within  an  hour,  by  the 
daring  and  skilful  Guachos. 

The  English  Horse,  from  which  our  best  horses  have 
come,  has  much  Arabian  and  Barb  blood  in  it.  The  race- 
horse is  swifter  for  short  distances  than  the  best  Arabian 
horse.  It  is  much  like  the  Arabian  in  looks,  but  is  taller 
and  longer,  and  has  changed  in  color.  The  Arabian  is 
generally  white,  light  gray,  or  flea-bitten,  but  the  race- 
horse is  more  usually  bay  and  chestnut.  The  changes 
have  probably  come  from  the  difference  in  the  climate  and 
in  the  way  the  horses  are  brought  up.  The  American 
racehorse  is  descended  from  the  English  racehorse  and  is 
therefore  also  of  Arabian  blood. 

The  Godolphin  Arabian,  Flying  Childers,  Iroquois,  and 
Foxhall  are  four  of  the  most  celebrated  racers. 

The  fastest  mile  ever  run  by  a  racehorse  in  the  United 
States  up  to  1890  was  made  by  Salvator  in  one  minute  and 

fhir+v-fi^01  W^  <rwp-b;)H'  H  B5i)  Seconds. 


102  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

Our  Trotting  Horse  is  the  fastest  in  the  world.  It  is  not 
a  thoroughbred  horse,  or  a  horse  of  pure  racing  blood, 
like  the  racehorse,  but  is  generally  a  descendant  of  a  cross 
between  the  racehorse  and  some  common  breed ;  but  a 
few  thoroughbred  racing  horses  have  been  taught  to  trot 
very  fast.  It  is  not  usually  as  tall  as  the  running  horse, 
and  is  sometimes  small.  There  is  also  a  good  breed  of 
trotting  horses  in  Russia,  called  Orloff  trotters,  which  is 
faster  than  common  horses,  but  not  so  fast  as  the  Ameri- 
can trotter.  The  fastest  mile  ever  trotted  in  the  United 
States  up  to  1894  was  made  at  Galesburg,  Illinois,  by  Alix 
in  two  minutes  and  three  and  three-quarter  (2.031)  sec- 
onds. The  great  pacing  stallion  John  R.  Gentry  went  a 
mile  in  the  remarkable  time  of  2.01?  at  Glen's  Falls,  New 
York,  September  10, 1896. 

Draught  Horses,  or  horses  used  for  drawing  heavy  loads, 
are  raised  in  many  countries.  In  France  the  Percheron 
breed  has  been  noted  for  hundreds  of  years.  Many  of 
them  are  seen  in  Paris,  where  they  are  used  for  drawing 
omnibuses  and  business  wagons,  and  a  few  of  them  are 
used  here.  They  are  large,  heavy  horses,  with  large 
heads.  In  England  the  breeds  called  the  Suffolk,  the 
Cleveland  Bay,  and  the  Clydesdale  are  noted  for  their 
size  and  strength.  The  Flanders  horse,  of  Belgium  and 
Holland,  is  very  large,  heavy,  and  strong.  Many  of  the 
great  horses  used  by  brewers  are  of  this  breed. 

All  these  breeds  are  called  heavy  draught  horses,  because 
they  are  used  in  the  heaviest  kinds  of  trucks  and  large 
wagons.  There  are  also  light  draught  horses,  for  drawing 
lighter  loads,  which  are  not  quite  so  heavy  in  the  body 
and  are  quicker  in  their  motions.  The  carriage  horse  is 
of  a  lighter  and  more  elegant  form  than  the  common 
draught  horse,  but  is  generally  large  and  strong.  The 
saddle  horse  should  be  smaller  than  the  carriage  horse, 
graceful  and  active  in  all  its  movements,  and  taught  to 
obey  the  rein  and  to  understand  every  motion  of  its  rider 


^iiikR 


104  JS  AT  URAL  BISTOHV 

Ponies  are  found  in  many  countries.  Among  the  most 
noted  are  the  Shetland  ponies,  raised  in  the  islands  of  the 
same  name,  north  of  Scotland,  where  they  are  called  Sh el- 
ties.  Some  of  these  little  horses  are  not  much  larger  than 
a  great  dog,  but  they  are  very  strong,  and  will  carry  a  man 
with  ease.  The  prairie  Indians  have  a  breed  of  ponies 
which  are  very  hardy  and  strong.  One  of  them  will 
travel  all  day  long  with  a  heavy  man  on  its  back. 

The  humble  and  hardy  Ass  is  scarcely  less  serviceable 
to  man  than  the  more  imposing  horse.  Where  it  meets 
with  harsh  treatment,  is  scantily  fed,  and  only  used  for 
laborious  tasks,  it  is  dull  and  obstinate;  but  in  the  East, 
where  it  is  employed  by  the  rich,  and  is  properly  treated, 
it  is  an  elegant  and  spirited  animal  with  good  action  and 
smooth  coat. 

The  Zebra  is  found  in  South  Africa.  This  beautiful 
animal  lives  in  troops  among  the  mountains,  shunning 
the  presence  of  man.  It  is  distinguished  by  the  regular 
stripes  of  brownish  black  with  which  its  whole  body  is 
covered,  even  down  to  the  hoofs.  It  is  very  wild  and  sus- 
picious, carefully  placing  sentinels  to  look  out  for  danger. 
Notwithstanding  these  precautions,  several  zebras  have 
been  taken  alive,  and  some,  in  spite  of  their  vicious  habits, 
have  been  trained  to  draw  a  carriage.  It  could  probably 
be  domesticated  like  the  Ass,  as  the  black  cross  on  the  back 
and  shoulders  of  the  latter  animal  prove  the  affinity  be- 
tween them.  The  voice  of  the  Zebra  is  peculiar  and  can 
hardly  be  described. 

The  Elephant.  Of  this  magnificent  animal,  whose  forrr 
is  familiar  to  every  eye,  two  species  are  known,  the  Indian 
and  the  African.  The  anatomy  of  this  huge  quadruped  is 
well  worthy  of  consideration.  Its  head  and  tusks  are  so 
very  heavy  that  no  long  neck  would  bear  them  ;  the  neck 
is  therefore  very  short.  But  this  shortness  of  neck  pre- 
vents the  Elephant  from  putting  its  head  to  the  ground,  or 
from  stooping  to  the  water's  edge.     This  apparent  defect 


Asiatic  Elephant — Indian   Elephant, 


<  105  ) 


106  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

is  compensated  by  the  wonderful  manner  in  which  its 
upper  lip  and  nose  are  elongated,  and  rendered  capable  of 
drawing  up  water  or  plucking  grass.  In  the  trunk  there 
are  about  40,000  muscles,  enabling  it  to  shorten,  lengthen, 
coil  up  or  move  in  any  direction  this  most  extraordinary- 
organ.  The  trunk  is  pierced  throughout  its  length  by  two 
canals,  through  which  liquids  can  be  drawn  by  suction. 
If  the  Elephant  wishes  to  drink,  after  drawing  the  liquid 
into  its  trunk,  it  inserts  the  end  of  its  trunk  into  its  mouth, 
and  discharges  the  contents  down  its  throat;  but  if  it 
wishes  to  wash  itself  or  play,  it  blows  the  contained 
liquid  from  the  trunk  with  great  violence.  Through  the 
trunk  its  curious  trumpet-like  voice  is  produced.  At  the 
extremity  is  a  finger-like  appendage,  with  which  it  can 
pick  up  small  objects.  In  order  to  sustain  the  muscles  of 
the  jaw  and  neck,  the  head  must  be  very  large;  were  it 
solid,  it  would  be  very  heavy.  The  skull  is  therefore 
formed  of  a  number  of  cells  of  bone,  forming  the  necessary 
expanse  without  the  weight,  leaving  but  a  very  small 
cavity  for  the  brain. 

This  fact  will  account  for  the  numberless  bullet  wounds 
which  an  elephant  will  endure  in  the  skull.  The  ball, 
instead  of  penetrating  to  the  brain,  merely  lodges  among 
the  bony  cells,  and  does  no  great  mischief.  A  ball  was 
once  found  firmly  imbedded  in  the  tusk  of  an  elephant; 
it  was  thoroughly  impacted,  and  there  was  no  apparent 
opening  by  which  it  could  have  reached  the  place  that  it 
occupied.  It  was  found  that  the  ball  had  struck  the 
elephant  at  the  base  of  the  tusk,  so  as  to  have  sunk  among 
the  soft  and  as  yet  unformed  ivory.  This  by  degrees  was 
pushed  on  as  the  tusk  grew  in  successive  years,  until  it 
was  at  last  surrounded  closely  by  hard  ivory.  A  spear- 
head has  been  also  found  similarly  imbedded. 

The  Indian  Elephant  is  almost  invariably  taken  from 
its  native  haunts  and  then  trained.  The  Indian  hunters 
proceed  into  the  woods  with  two  trained  female  elephants. 


TAPIR.  1()7 

These  advance  quietly,  and  so  occupy  the  attention  of  any 
unfortunate  male  that  they  meet,  that  the  hunters  are  en- 
abled to  tie  his  legs  together  and  fasten  him  to  a  tree.  His 
treacherous  companions  now  leave  him  to  struggle  in  im- 
potent rage,  until  he  is  so  subdued  by  hunger  and  fatigue 
that  the  hunters  can  drive  him  home  between  their  two 
tame  elephants.  When  once  captured  he  is  easily  trained. 
In  captivity  it  is  very  docile  and  gentle,  but  sometimes, 
when  provoked,  will  take  a  very  ample  revenge.  Of  this 
propensity  many  anecdotes  are  told 

Its  tusks  and  teeth  furnish  fine  ivory,  which  is  used  for 
knife-handles,  combs,  billiard-balls,  etc.  All  Elephants 
are  fond  of  the  water,  and  sometimes  submerge  themselves 
so  far,  that  nothing  but  the  tip  of  the  proboscis  remains 
above  the  surface.  In  a  tame  state,  the  Elephant  delights 
in  concealing  itself  below  the  water,  and  deluging  the 
spectators  with  a  stream  sent  from  its  trunk. 

The  African  Elephant  is  distinguished  from  the  Indian 
Elephant  by  the  markings  of  its  teeth  and  some  difference 
in  form,  noticeably,  having  much  larger  ears. 

The  Tapir  forms  one  of  the  links  connecting  the  Ele- 
phant with  the  Hog.  The  snout  is  lengthened  into  a  kind 
of  proboscis  like  that  of  the  Elephant,  but  it  is  compara- 
tively short,  and  has  no  finger-like  appendage  at  the  ex- 
.tremity. 

It  is  spread  throughout  the  warmer  regions  of  South 
America.  It  sleeps  during  the  day,  and  wanders  about  at 
night  in  search  of  its  food,  which  consists  of  watermelons, 
gourds,  and  other  vegetables.  It  is  fond  of  the  water,  and 
can  remain  below  the  surface  for  a  long  time.  It  is  a 
powerful  animal,  and  as  it  is  furnished  with  a  very  thick 
hide,  it  plunges  through  the  brushwood,  breaking  its  way 
through  any  obstacles  that  may  oppose  its  progress.  Its 
disposition  is  gentle,  but  when  annoyed  it  rushes  at  its 
antagonist,  and  defends  itself  vigorously  with  its  powerful 
teeth.     The  Jaguar  frequently  springs  on  it,  but  is  often 


108  NATURAL  HISTORI. 

dislodged  by  the  activity  of  the  Tapir,  who  rushes  through 
the  bushes  immediately  that  it  feels  the  claws  of  its  enemy, 
and  endeavors  to  brush  him  off  against  the  thick  brandies. 
The  height  of  the  American  Tapir  is  from  five  to  six  feet. 
The  Malay  Tapir  is  somewhat  larger,  and  is  known  by  the 
grayish  white  color  of  the  loins  and  hind-quarters,  which 
give  the  animal  the  appearance  as  if  a  white  horse-cloth 
had  been  spread  over  it. 

The  Boar.  The  animals  composing  the  Hog  tribe  are 
found  in  almost  every  part  of  the  globe.  Their  feet  are 
cloven  and  externally  resemble  those  of  the  Ruminants, 
but  an  examination  of  the  bones  at  once  points  out  the 
difference. 

The  Wild  Hog  or  Boar  inhabits  many  parts  of  Europe, 
especially  the  forests  of  Germany,  where  its  chase  is  a 
common  amusement.  Its  tusks  are  terrible  weapons. 
They  curve  outwards  from  the  lower  jaw,  and  are  some- 
times ten  inches  in  length.  In  India,  where  the  Boar  at- 
tains to  a  great  size,  the  horses  on  which  the  hunters  are 
mounted  often  refuse  to  bring  their  riders  within  spear 
stroke  of  the  infuriated  animal,  who  has  been  known  to 
kill  a  horse,  and  severely  injure  the  rider  with  one  sweep 
of  its  enormous  tusks. 

The  Domestic  Hog  scarcely  needs  any  description.  It 
is  by  no  means  the  unclean  and  filthy  animal  that  it  is 
represented.  It  certainly  is  fond  of  wallowing  in  the 
mire,  as  are  the  Elephants,  Tapirs,  etc.,  but  no  animal  seems 
to  enjoy  clean  straw  more  than  the  Hog.  We  shut  it  up  in 
a  dirty,  narrow  crib,  give  it  any  kind  of  refuse  to  eat,  and 
then  abuse  it  for  being  a  dirty  animal  and  an  unclean 
feeder. 

The  Babyroussa  inhabits  the  Molucca  Islands  and 
Java.  It  is  remarkable  for  possessing  four  tusks,  two  of 
which  proceed  from  the  upper  jaw,  and  do  not  pass  out 
between  the  lips,  but  through  an  aperture  in  the  skin. 
half  way  between  the  end  of  the  snout  and  eyes.     The 


BABYROUSSA. 


100 


sockets  of  the  two  upper  tusks  are  curved  upwards,  and 
give  a  singular  appearance  to  the  skull  of  the  animal.  It 
looks  a  ferocious  animal,  and  it  is  very  savage  and  cannot 


"Rhinoceros  Head. 


be  hunted  without  danger.  Yet  when  taken  young  it  cass 
be  tamed  without  much  difficulty,  and  conducts  itself 
much  after  the  manner  of  a  well-behaved  pig. 

Only  the  male  possesses  the  remarkable  double  pair  rri 


110  NATURAL  HISTUKX, 

tusks,  the  female  being  destitute  of  the  upper  pair,  and 
only  possessing  those  belonging  to  the  under  jaw  in  a 
rudimentary  degree.  It  lives  in  troops,  as  do  most  of  the 
Hog  kind,  and  thus  does  great  damage  to  the  cultivated 
grounds,  especially  to  the  maize,  a  plant  to  which  it  is  very 
partial.  It  is  a  good  swimmer,  and  often  takes  to  the  water 
in  order  to  cross  to  another  island.  The  size  of  the  ani- 
mal, when  full  grown,  is  about  that  of  a  very  large  Hog. 

The  Rhinoceros.  There  are,  apparently,  six  species  of 
this  formidable  animal,  inhabiting  various  parts  of  Asia 
and  Africa.  They  can  be  distinguished  from  each  other 
by  the  number  and  shape  of  their  horns,  and  the  color  of 
their  bodies.     Their  habits  are  much  alike. 

The  Rhinoceros  is  always  a  surly  and  ill-tempered  ani- 
mal, and  is  much  given  to  making  unprovoked  attacks  on 
man  and  beast,  if  it  should  happen  to  fancy  itself  insulted 
by  their  presence.  Their  chief  peculiarity,  the  so-called 
horn,  is  a  mass  of  fibers  matted  together,  and  closely  re- 
sembling the  structure  of  whalebone.  Their  feet  are  di- 
vided into  three  toes,  incased  in  hoofs.  The  horn  is  not 
connected  with  the  skull,  but  is  merely  a  growth  from  the 
skin,  from  which  it  can  be  separated  by  means  of  a  sharp 
penknife.  Being  made  of  very  strong  materials,  it  is  em- 
ployed in  the  manufacture  of  ramrods,  clubs,  and  other 
similar  implements.  When  properly  worked,  it  is  capable 
of  taking  a  very  high  polish,  and  is  cut  into  drinking-cups. 

Its  organs  of  scent  are  very  acute,  and  as  the  creature 
seems  to  have  a  peculiar  faculty  for  detecting  the  presence 
of  human  beings,  it  is  necessary  for  the  hunters  to  use  the 
greatest  circumspection  when  they  approach  it,  whether  to 
avoid  or  to  kill,  as  in  the  one  case  it  may  probably  be 
taken  with  a  sudden  fit  of  fury,  and  charge  at  them,  or  in 
the  other  case  it  may  take  the  alarm  and  escape. 

The  upper  lip  is  used  by  the  Rhinoceros  to  grasp  the 
herbage  on  which  it  feeds,  or  pick  up  small  fruit  from  the 
ground      A  very  ta.m«  Rhinoceros  has  been  known,  to  take 


fflV  -u  i 


Hf/u 


Bit  i  P&8 


1  o 


I  I  2  NATURAL  UlSTORi. 

a  piece  of  bun  or  biscuit  from  a  visitor's  hand  by  means  oi 
its  flexible  upper  lip. 

There  is,  probably,  but  one  species  of  Hippopotamus. 
It  inhabits  Africa  exclusively,  and  is  found  in  plenty  on 
the  banks  of  many  rivers  in  that  country,  where  it  is  seen 
gamboling  and  snorting  at  all  times  of  the  day. 

These  animals  are  quiet  and  inoffensive  while  undis- 
turbed, but  if  attacked  they  unite  to  repel  the  invader, 
and  have  been  known  to  tear  several  planks  from  the  side 
of  a  boat  and  sink  it.  They  can  remain  about  five  min- 
utes under  water,  and  when  they  emerge  they  make  a  loud 
and  very  peculiar  snorting  noise,  which  can  be  heard  at  a 
great  distance.  The  hide  is  very  thick  and  strong,  and  is 
chiefly  used  for  whips.  The  well-known  "  cow-hides  "  are 
made  of  this  material.  Between  the  skin  and  flesh  is  a 
layer  of  fat,  which  is  salted  and  eaten  by  the  Dutch  colo- 
nists of  Southern  Africa.  When  salted  it  is  called  Sea- 
cow's  bacon.     The  flesh  is  also  in  some  request. 

The  Hippopotamus  feeds  entirely  on  vegetable  sub- 
stances, such  as  grass  and  brushwood.  The  fine  animal 
now  in  the  London  Zoological  Society  eats  all  kinds  of 
vegetables,  not  disdaining  roots. 

From  the  construction  of  the  head,  the  animal  is  en- 
abled to  raise  its  eyes  and  nostrils  above  the  water  at  the 
same  time,  so  that  it  can  survey  the  prospect  and  breathe 
without  raising  more  than  an  inch  or  two  of  its  person  from 
the  water.  In  order  to  attain  this  object,  the  eyes  are  very 
small,  and  placed  very  high  in  the  head,  while  the  muzzle 
is  very  large,  and  the  nostrils  open  on  its  upper  surface. 

Gumming  relates  that  the  track  of  the  Hippopotamus 
may  be  readily  distinguished  from  that  of  any  other  ani- 
mal by  a  line  of  unbroken  herbage  which  is  left  between 
the  marks  of  the  feet  on  each  side,  as  the  width  of  the 
space  between  the  right  and  left  legs  causes  the  animal  to 
place  its  feet  so  considerably  apart  as  to  make  a  distinct 
double  track. 


Hippopotamus. 


(113  ) 


114  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

The  teeth  of  the  Hippopotamus  are  the  mainstay  of  the 
dentist,  who  cuts  from  the  tusk  of  a  Hippopotamus  those 
series  of  elegant  teeth  which  replace  those  that  age  or 
accident  has  struck  out  of  the  human  mouth.  The  ivory 
is  exceedingly  hard,  and  does  not  readily  lose  its  beautiful 
whiteness,  being  properties  which  render  it  especially 
valuable  for  such  purposes. 

This  is  supposed  by  many  to  be  the  animal  called 
Behemoth  in  Scripture. 

The  Sloth  is  an  example  of  the  errors  into  which 
naturalists  are  led  from  hasty  observation.  The  great 
Cuvier  himself  condemns  the  Sloth  as  a  degraded  and 
miserable  animal,  moving  with  pain,  and  misshapen  in 
form.  Yet  no  animal  is  more  fitted  for  its  position  than 
the  Sloth.  In  its  wild  state  it  spends  its  whole  life  in  the 
trees,  and  never  leaves  them  but  through  force  or  accident, 
and,  what  is  more  extraordinary,  not  upon  the  branches, 
like  the  Squirrel  and  Monkey,  but  under  them.  He  moves 
suspended  from  the  branch,  he  rests  suspended  from  the 
branch  and  he  sleeps  suspended  from  the  branch. 

To  render  it  fit  for  this  singular  mode  of  life,  its  long 
and  powerful  arms  are  furnished  with  strong,  curved  claws, 
which  hook  round  the  branches  and  keep  the  animal 
suspended  without  any  effort.  When  on  the  ground 
these  claws  are  very  inconvenient,  and  it  can  barely 
shuffle  along;  but  when  it  is  among  its  native  branches 
it  moves  with  exceeding  rapidity,  particularly  in  a  gale 
of  wind,  when  it  passes  from  branch  to  branch,  and  from 
tree  to  tree,  with  an  activity  which  its  movements  on  the 
ground  by  no  means  portend. 

The  Pangolins  are  known  by  the  peculiar,  strong,  horny 
plates  with  which  their  bodies  are  defended,  giving  them 
the  appearance  of  animals  enveloped  in  a  suit  of  scale 
armor.  When  attacked  they  roll  themselves  up,  wrap 
their  tails  round  them,  and  raise  the  whole  array  of  sharp- 
edged  scales  with  which  their  body  is  covered,  and  bid 


116  NATURAL  HISTORY 

defiance  to  almost  any  enemy  except  man.  They  live  oti 
ants  and  termites,  or  white  ants,  as  they  are  called,  which 
they  take  by  thrusting  their  long,  slender  tongue  among 
the  ants,  which  adhere  to  it  by  a  gummy  saliva.  When 
the  tongue  is  covered  it  is  rapidly  retracted,  and  the  ants 
swallowed.  To  obtain  the  ants,  the  Pangolins  are  fur- 
nished with  powerful  claws  to  tear  down  the  dwellings  of 
their  prey.  The  long-tailed  species  is  widely  scattered 
through  Africa,  but  is  not  very  common.  The  length  of 
its  body  is  about  two  feet,  and  that  of  its  tail  rather  more 
than  three.  The  short-tailed  is  common  in  India.  Its 
entire  length  is  about  four  feet. 

The  Armadillos  live  exclusively  in  the  warmer  parts 
of  South  and  Central  America.  They  eat  carrion,  insects, 
and  sometimes  fallen  fruit.  They  burrow  with  great  ra- 
pidity, and  can  only  be  forced  from  their  refuge  by  smoke 
or  water.  When  hunted  and  close  pressed  they  endeavor 
to  escape  by  rapidly  burrowing  into  the  earth,  or  try  to 
oppose  a  partial  resistance  by  rolling  themselves  up  and 
trusting  to  the  protection  of  their  armor.  The  natives  and 
colonists  consider  them  great  delicacies  when  roasted  in 
their  shells. 

The  curious  Ant-eater  inhabits  Guiana,  Brazil  and 
Paraguay,  and  liyes  principally  upon  ants  and  termites, 
which  it  procures  in  precisely  the  same  manner  as  was 
related  of  the  Pangolins.  Its  short  legs  and  long  claws 
would  lead  an  observer  to  suppose  that  its  pace  was  slow 
and  constrained,  but  when  chased  it  runs  off  with  a  pecu- 
liar trot,  and  with  such  rapidity  that  it  keeps  a  horse  to 
its  speed  to  overtake  it. 

Its  tongue  looks  exactly  like  a  great  red  worm,  and 
when  the  creature  is  engaged  in  devouring  its  food,  the 
rapid  coiling  and  twisting  of  the  tongue  add  in  no  small 
degree  to  the  resemblance. 

The  claws  are  very  long  and  curved,  and  are  exceedingly 
strong.     They  are  placed  on  the  foot  in  such  a  manner 


8  -Natural  Histo-^t 


118  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

that  when  the  animal  is  walking  its  weight  rests  on  the 
outside  of  the  fore-feet  and  the  outer  edge  of  the  claws, 
which  make  a  great  clattering  if  the  Ant-eater  is  walking 
upon  a  hard  surface. 

When  it  sleeps  it  lies  on  one  side,  rolls  itself  up,  so 
that  its  snout  rests  on  its  breast,  places  all  its  feet  together, 
and  covers  itself  with  its  bushy  tail.  The  fur  of  the  ani- 
mal resembles  hay,  and  when  it  is  thus  curled  up  in  sleep 
it  is  so  exactly  like  a  bundle  of  hay  that  anyone  might 
pass  it  carelessly,  imagining  it  to  be  nothing  but  a  loose 
heap  of  that  substance.  Its  ordinary  length  is  about  forty- 
three  inches,  and  its  height  about  three  feet. 

The  Duck-billed  Platypus.  Australia,  where  every- 
thing seems  to  be  reversed,  where  the  north  wind  is  warm 
and  the  south  wind  cold,  the  thick  end  of  a  pear  is  next 
the  stem,  and  the  stone  of  a  cherry  grows  outside,  is  the 
residence  of  this  most  extraordinary  animal.  When  it 
was  first  introduced  into  Europe  it  was  fully  believed  to 
be  the  manufacture  of  some  impostor,  who  with  much  in- 
genuity had  fixed  the  beak  of  a  duck  into  the  head  of  some 
unknown  animal.  It  will,  however,  be  seen  by  the  skull 
of  the  animal  that  this  duck-like  beak  really  belongs  to 
the  animal,  and  is  caused  by  a  prolongation  of  some  of 
the  bones  of  the  head. 

It  lives  by  the  banks  of  rivers,  in  which  it  burrows  like 
the  Water-rat.  Curiously  enough,  it  finds  no  difficulty  in 
this  labor,  for  the  feet  are  so  constructed  that  the  animal 
can  fold  back  the  web  at  pleasure,  and  thus  the  foot  is  en- 
abled to  perform  its  task.  It  feeds  upon  water  insects  and 
shell-fish,  always  rejecting  the  crushed  shells  after  swal- 
lowincr  the  inhabitant.  The  male  has  a  sharp  spur  on  its 
hind-feet. 

The  learned  have  given  the  animal  several  names.  The 
native  name  for  the  creature  is  "  Mullingong." 


BIRDS. 

Birds  are  distinguished  from  the  Mammalia  by  their 
general  form,  their  feathery  covering,  and  by  producing 
their  young  inclosed  in  eggs. 

The  different  orders  of  birds  are  principally  known  by 
the  character  of  the  claws  and  beak.  Before  attending  to 
individual  species,  we  will  first  examine  some  of  the  struc- 
tures common  to  all  hirds. 

One  of  the  first  great  marks  of  distinction  in  birds  is  the 
wing.  This  organ  is  a  modification  of  the  arm  or  fore- 
limb  of  mammalia,  clothed  with  feathers  instead  of  hair. 

The  bones  of  adult  birds  are  not  filled  with  marrow 
like  the  bones  of  mammalia,  but  are  hollow  and  filled  with 
air,  and  are  therefore  rendered  very  light,  a  bone  of  a  goose 
being  barely  half  the  weight  of  a  rabbit's  bone  of  the  same 
size,  after  the  marrow  has  been  extracted.  The  bones 
forming  the  wing  are  beautifully  jointed  together,  and  ar- 
ranged so  as  to  give  great  strength  together  with  lightness. 
Most  persons  seem  to  fancy  that  the  foot  of  the  bird  is  that 
part  which  grasps  the  branch,  or  by  means  of  which  it 
walks  on  the  ground — that  the  joint  above  that  member 
is  the  knee — and  that  the  thigh  is  the  feathered  portion  of 
the  limb  that  proceeds  from  the  bird's  body.  These  ideas 
are  all  wrong. 

The  leg  of  a  bird  is  formed  on  much  the  same  principle 
as  the  hind-leg  of  a  quadruped,  the  part  that  grasps  the 
branches  being  composed  of  the  toes,  the  so-called  knee- 
joint  being  the  heel-bone  of  the  foot,  so  that  the  whole 
foot  reaches  half  way  from  the  perch  to  the  bird.     The 

(119) 


120  NATURAL  UISTORY 

knee-joint  is  placed  high  up  against  the  body,  and  is 
buried  in  the  feathers. 

As  the  wing  present?  a  very  broad  surface  to  the  air,  it 
is  necessary  that  very  powerful  muscles  should  be  used  to 
move  it  with  sufficient  rapidity.  The  pectoral  muscles 
are  therefore  enormously  developed,  extending  almost  the 
whole  length  of  the  body,  as  every  one  who  has  carved 
a  fowl  must  have  seen,  and  in  order  to  form  an  attach- 
ment for  these  immense  muscles,  the  ridge  of  the  breast- 
bone is  equally  enlarged.  It  is  the  want  of  these  enlarged 
muscles  that  prevents  man  from  flying,  even  when  he  has 
attached  wings  to  his  arms.  The  principal  characteristics 
of  birds  are  taken  from  their  foot  and  beak. 

The  fuller  and  more  technical  description  of  the  Birds 
runs  as  follows.  They  are  vertebrate  animals,  but  do  not 
suckle  their  young.  The  young  are  not  produced  in  an 
actively  animated  state,  but  enclosed  in  the  egg,  from 
which  they  do  not  emerge  until  they  have  been  warmed 
into  independent  life  by  the  effects  of  constant  warmth. 
Generally,  the  eggs  are  hatched  by  means  of  the  natural 
warmth  which  proceeds  from  the  mother-bird ;  but  in 
some  instances,  such  as  that  of  the  Tallegalla  of  Australia, 
the  eggs  are  placed  in  a  vast  heap  of  dead  leaves  and 
grass,  and  developed  by  means  of  the  heat  which  is  ex- 
haled from  decaying  vegetable  substances. 

The  number  of  existing  species  of  birds  being  in  all 
probability  considerably  over  ten  thousand,  it  will  be  ob- 
vious that  the  various  groups  must  be  treated  briefly  ;  and 
in  many  instances  we  shall  be  able  to  allude  only  to  the 
families,  without  referring  to  the  genera,  and  in  some 
cases  not  even  the  whole  of  the  former  are  mentioned. 

The  Lammergeyer,  or  Bearded  Vulture,  inhabits 
most  mountain  ranges,  and  is  very  common  in  the  Alps 
of  Switzerland  and  Germany,  where,  from  its  depreda- 
tions on  the  kids  and  lambs,  it  has  earned  its  name  of 
Lammergeyer 


.Mini 


(rk 


i    iff 


122  NATURAL  HISTORY, 

Although  called  the  Bearded  "  Vulture,"  it  is  not  strictly 
a  vulture,  as  its  head  and  neck  are  feathered,  and  it  rejects 
putrid  flesh,  unless  hard  pressed  by  hunger. 

It  destroys  hares  and  young  or  sickly  sheep  and  goats, 
nor,  when  rendered  fierce  by  hunger,  does  it  fear  to  attack 
the  adult  chamois,  or  even  man.  It  is  said  to  destroy  the 
larger  animals  by  watching  until  they  are  near  the  brink 
of  a  precipice,  and  suddenly  driving  them  over  the  rocks 
by  an  unexpected  swoop.  In  this  manner  the  strong  and 
swift  chamois  falls  a  victim  to  the  craft  of  its  winged  foe, 
and  instances  are  not  wanting  where  the  chamois-hunter 
himself  has  been  struck  from  a  narrow  ridge  into  the  val- 
ley beneath  by  a  blow  from  this  ferocious  bird.  It  is  ex- 
ceedingly bold,  and  shows  but  little  fear  of  man. 

The  name  of  "  Bearded  "  Vulture  is  given  to  it  on  ac- 
count of  the  long  tuft  of  hairs  with  which  each  nostril  is 
clothed.  The  length  of  its  body  is  about  four  feet,  and  the 
expanse  of  its  wings  from  nine  to  ten.     It  lays  two  eggs. 

The  Condor  inhabits  the  Andes  of  South  America,  al- 
ways choosing  its  residence  on  the.  summit  of  a  solitary 
rock.  This  bird  does  not  build  any  nest,  but  lays  its  two 
white  eggs  on  the  bare  rock  after  the  manner  of  many  sea 
birds.  The  expanse  of  wing  is  about  ten  feet,  and  the 
length  of  the  bird  about  three  feet.  It  is  exceedingly 
strong  and  tenacious  of  life.  Two  Condors  will  attack  and 
kill  the  llama;  for  by  repeated  buffeting  and  pecking 
they  weary  it  so  completely  that  it  yields  to  their  perse- 
verance. 

The  true  Vultures  are  the  representatives  of  the  carrion- 
devouring  animals,  such  as  the  Hyenas,  Wild  Dogs,  etc. 
They,  however,  do  not  attack  living  animals.  The  neck  of 
the  Vulture  is  almost  naked,  very  slightly  sprinkled  with 
down,  and,  from  the  formation  of  the  lower  part  of  the 
neck,  the  bird  is  enabled  to  draw  its  head  almost  under 
the  feathers  of  its  shoulders,  so  that  a  hasty  observer  would 
conclude  that  the  creature  had  no  neck  at  all. 


White-Headed  Sea-Eagle. 


(123) 


124  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

The  marvellous  quickness  with  which  the  Vultures  dis- 
cover a  dead  animal  has  caused  many  discussions  among 
naturalists  as  to  the  sense  employed ;  some  declaring  en- 
tirely for  sight,  and  others  asserting  that  the  scent  of  putrid 
animal  matter  leads  the  Vultures  to  their  prey. 

The  probability  is  that  both  senses  are  used,  one  aiding 
the  other.  Where  a  dead  hog  was  hidden  under  canes  and 
briers  numbers  of  Vultures  were  seen  sailing  in  all  direc- 
tions over  the  spot,  evidently  directed  by  the  scent,  but 
unable  to  discover  by  their  eyes  the  exact  position  of  the 
animal.  The  olfactory  nerves  of  the  Vulture  are  beauti- 
fully developed. 

The  G-riffox  Vulture  is  found  in  almost  all  parts  of 
the  old  world.  It  is  one  of  the  largest  of  its  group,  meas- 
uring upwards  of  four  feet  in  length.  Like  most  of  the 
Vultures,  it  does  not  appear  to  move  its  wings  while  fly- 
ing, but  soars  in  large  circles. 

Vultures  are  generally  protected  by  the  natives  of  the 
countries  where  they  reside  on  account  of  their  great  utility 
in  clearing  away  putrid  animal  matter. 

They  seem  to  hold  the  same  place  among  birds  as  the 
Hyenas  among  the  Mammalia. 

Eagles  are  characterized  by  hooked  beaks  and  sharp, 
powerful  claws.  About  seventy  species  are  known.  They 
have  great  powers  of  flight  and  of  vision,  are  diurnal  and 
solitary  in  their  habits,  and  use  their  claws  in  killing  their 
prey.  The  Eagle  was  regarded  by  the  ancients  as  a  sym- 
bol of  royalty,  and  has  the  proverbial  distinction  of  being 
the  king  of  birds.  Large  specimens  of  the  Eagle  measure 
three  and  a  half  feet  in  length,  and  nine  feet  from  tip  to 
tip  of  the  expanded  wings.  These  birds  usually  breed  in 
mountainous  districts  or  forests,  remote  from  human  habi- 
tations. They  are  all  monogamous,  and  it  is  said  that  a 
pair  will  live  together  in  perfect  harmony  until  death  sepa- 
rates them.  They  build  their  nests  on  a  high  tree,  a  ledge 
of  rock,  or  on  some  inaccessible  cliff,     The  nest  is  inar- 


EAGLES.  125 

tistically  constructed  of  sticks,  which  are  rudely  arranged, 
The  Eagle  is  supposed  to  live  to  a  great  age,  more  than 
one  hundred  years. 

The  Golden  Eagle  is  a  magnificent  bird  found  in  Europe, 
Asia  and  North  America,  deriving  its  name  from  the 
golden-red  color  of  the  feathers  which  cover  its  head  and 
neck.  The  plumage  of  the  body  is  a  rich  dark- brown. 
This  species  is  the  largest  of  the  European  Eagles.  It 
feeds  on  hares,  lambs,  pigs,  fish,  etc.,  which  it  carries  to 
its  nest.  When  in  pursuit  of  its  prey  it  is  very  audacious, 
and  has  been  seen  to  carry  off  a  hare  before  the  noses  of  a 
pack  of  hounds. 

It  is  stated  that  the  Golden  Eagle  can  be  tamed,  and  has 
been  trained  to  catch  game  for  its  master.  Its  flight  is 
graceful.  It  sweeps  through  the  air  in  a  series  of  spiral 
curves,  rising  with  every  spire,  and  making  no  perceptible 
effort  or  motion  with  its  wings.  To  keep  the  sunshine 
above  from  teasing  it,  the  eye  is  put  under  a  triangular 
pent-house,  which  is  the  most  characteristic  thing  in  the 
bird's  whole  aspect.  The  Imperial  Eagle,  which  inhabits 
Asia  and  Southern  Europe,  is  nearly  as  large  as  the  Golden 
Eagle,  and  is  similar  in  appearance.  Its  head  and  neck 
are  covered  with  feathers  of  a  deep  fawn-color.  It  gene- 
rally builds  on  lofty  trees. 

The  national  bird  of  the  United  States  is  the  Bald  Eagle, 
which  has  a  white  head,  neck  and  tail.  Its  length  is  about 
forty  inches,  the  stretch  of  wing  about  eight  feet.  The 
nest  of  the  Bald  Eagle  is  generally  made  upon  some  lofty 
tree,  and  sometimes  becomes  of  great  size,  as  the  bird  is  in 
the  habit  of  using  the  same  nest  year  after  year,  and  mak- 
ing additions  to  it  every  season.  The  female  bird  gene- 
rally lays  her  eggs  in  January,  two  or  three  in  number, 
and  they  are  hatched  by  the  middle  of  February.  It  is 
strongly  attached  to  its  young,  and  will  not  forsake  them, 
even  if  the  tree  on  which  they  rest  be  enveloped  in  flames. 
It  is  fond  of  fish,  which  it  generally  steals  from  the  osprey. 


128  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

Its  habit  is  to  watch  near  a  river  until  an  osprey  fcas 
caught  a  fish,  which  the  Eagle  snatches  iri  the  air  or  catches 
as  it  falls  from  the  claws  of  the  osprey.  It  is  widely  dis- 
tributed through  different  regions  of  North  America,  and 
frequents  the  sea-coasts,  lakes  and  large  rivers. 

The  Harpy  Eagle  is  a  fierce  and  powerful  bird  of  Mexico 
and  of  Central  and  South  America.  A  single  stroke  of  its 
bill  has  been  known  to  break  a  man's  skull. 

The  Buzzards  are  distinguished  by  their  short  beaks, 
large,  rounded  wings  and  squared  tails.  They  all  live  on 
small  animals,  reptiles  and  various  insects.  The  Com- 
mon Buzzard  occurs  throughout  most  of  Europe  and  part 
of  Asia.  When  searching  for  food  it  rests  upon  some  high 
branch,  waiting  until  some  small  animal  makes  its  appear- 
ance, when  it  sweeps  down  from  its  elevation,  seizes  its 
prey  without  settling  on  the  ground,  and  returns,  if  not 
disturbed,  to  the  same  spot. 

It  generally  builds  in  high  trees,  but  has  been  known  to 
make  its  nest  among  rocks.  Its  eggs  are  usually  three  in 
number.     Its  length  is  about  twenty-two  inches. 

The  Kite,  Glede,  or  Gled  is  spread  over  Europe,  Asia 
and  Northern  Africa.  It  is  hated  by  the  farmer  for  its 
depredations  on  his  poultry,  and  its  appearance  is  the 
signal  for  a  general  outcry  among  the  terrified  poultry, 
who  perceive  it  long  before  the  keenest-eyed  man  can 
distinguish  it  from  a  casual  spot  in  the  distant  sky-  The 
sportsman  detests  it  for  the  havoc  it  makes  among  the 
game. 

It  builds  in  tall  trees  and  lays  three  eggs.  Its  length  is 
rather  more  than  two  feet. 

The  Peregrine  Falcon,  an  inhabitant  of  most  parts  of 
Europe,  Asia  and  South  America,  was  in  the  palmy  days 
of  hawking  one  of  the  favorite  Falcons  chosen  for  that 
sport.  Its  strength  and  swiftness  are  very  great,  enabling 
it  to  strike  down  its  prey  with  great  ease;  indeed,  it  has 
been  known  to  disable  five  partridges  in  succession.    From 


The  Greenland  Falcon. 


128  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

its  successful  pursuit  of  ducks  it  is  sometimes  called  the 
Duck  Hawk. 

Instead  of  merely  dashing  at  its  prey,  and  grasping  it 
with  its  claws,  the  Peregrine  Falcon  strikes  its  victim  with 
its  breast,  and  actually  stuns  it  with  the  violence  of  the 
blow  before  seizing  it  with  its  claws.  The  boldness  of  the 
Peregrine  is  so  great  that  it  was  generally  employed  to 
take  the  formidable  Heron.  After  the  Heron  had  been 
roused  by  some  marsh,  the  Falcon,  who  had  previously 
been  held  hooded  on  its  master's  hand,  was  loosed  from 
its  bonds  and  cast  off.  A  contest  then  took  place,  each 
striving  to  ascend  above  the  other.  In  this  contest  the 
Falcon  was  always  victorious,  and  after  it  had  attained  a 
sufficient  altitude  it  swept,  or  "  stooped,"  as  the  phrase- 
was,  upon  the  Heron.  When  the  Falcon  had  closed  with 
its  prey  they  both  came  to  the  ground  together,  and  the 
sportsman's  business  was  to  reach  the  place  and  assist  the 
Falcon  in  vanquishing  its  prey.  Sometimes,  however,  the 
wary  Heron  contrived  to  receive  its  enemy  on  the  point 
of  its  sharp  beak,  and  transfixed  it  by  its  own  impetus. 

It  changes  the  color  of  its  plumage  several  times  before 
it  arrives  at  full  maturity,  and  in  the  days  of  falconry  was 
known  by  different  names,  such  as  "  haggard,"  when  wild, 
"  eyeass,"  "  red  falcon,"  when  young,  "  tiercel  "  or  "  tassel- 
gentle,"  when  a  full-grown  male.  It  builds  on  ledges  of 
rocks,  laying  four  eggs,  and  its  length  is  about  18  inches. 

The  Kestrel,  or  Windhover,  as  it  is  often  called,  fre- 
quently falls  a  victim  to  the  mistaken  zeal  of  the  farmer, 
who  takes  every  opportunity  of  destroying  it,  as  he  con- 
founds it  with  the  sparrow-hawk.  The  natural  food  of 
the  Kestrel  is  field-mice,  so  that  the  farmer  should  protect 
instead  of  murdering  his  benefactor.  These  birds  are  not 
uncommon.  Their  nest  is  usually  built  in  the  deserted 
mansion  of  a  crow  or  magpie.  The  eggs  are  four  in  num- 
ber.    The  length  is  about  fifteen  inches. 

The  Sparrow-hawk  is  common  throughout  Europe, 


OWLS. 


129 


It  displays  great  pertinacity  in  pursuit  of  its  prey,  which 
it  will  chase  for  a  long  while,  skimming  along  a  few  feet 
above  the  ground.  One  of  these  hawks  was  known  to 
dash  through  a  window  in  pursuit  of  a  small  bird.  When 
taken  young  it  is  easily  tamed.  Its  length  is  about  fifteen 
inches.    It  builds  upon  lofty  trees,  laying  five  eggs. 

The  Secretary  Bird  derives  its  name  from  the  tufts  of 
feathers  at  the  back  of  its  head,  which  bear  a  fanciful 
resemblance  to  pens  stuck  behind  the  ear.  This  extraor- 
dinary bird  inhabits  South  Africa,  Senegambia  and  the 
Philippine  Islands.  Probably  a  different  species  inhabit 
each  of  these  countries.  It  feeds  on  snakes  and  other 
reptiles,  of  which  it  consumes  an  amazing  number,  and 
is  on  that  account  protected.  When  battling  with  a  snake 
it  covers  itself  with  one  wing,  as  with  a  shield,  and  with 
the  other  strikes  at  the  reptile  until  it  falls  senseless,  when 
a  powerful  blow  from  the  beak  splits  the  snake's  head 
asunder,  and  the  vanquished  enemy  is  speedily  swal- 
lowed. In  the  crop  of  a  dissected  Secretary  Bird  were 
found  eleven  large  lizards,  three  serpents,  each  a  yard  in 
length,  eleven  small  tortoises  and  a  great  quantity  of 
locusts  and  other  insects.  It  is  easily  tamed,  and  is  then 
exceedingly  useful.  It  builds  on  high  trees,  laying  three 
large  eggs.    Its  length  is  about  three  feet. 

Owls.  A  large  round  head,  with  enormous  eyes  look- 
ing forward,  is  a  distinguishing  mark  of  the  owl  family. 
Many  species  possess  two  feathery  tufts  placed  on  the 
head,  greatly  resembling  horns.  The  Owls  are  nocturnal 
birds,  pursuing  their  prey  by  night  and  sleeping  during 
the  day.  Their  eyes  are  enormously  large,  and  capable 
of  taking  in  every  ray  of  light.  Their  power  of  vision  is 
also  increased  by  the  method  in  which  the  eye  is  fixed  in 
a  kind  of  bony  socket,  just  like  a  watchmaker's  glass. 
The  power  of  hearing  is  very  delicate,  and  greatly  assists 
them.  In  order  to  protect  them  from  the  cold,  they  have 
a  dense  covering  of  downy  feathers  which  also  prevent 


130  NATURAL  HISTORY, 

the  movements  of  the  wing  from  being  heard  by  the  wary 
mouse ;  and  so  noiseless  is  their  flight  that  they  seem  to 
be  borne  along  by  the  wind  like  a  tuft  of  thistledown. 

The  Snowy  Owl  is  properly  an  inhabitant  of  the  north 
of  Europe,  but  is  also  found  in  North  America.  It  is  a 
good  fisher,  snatching  its  prey  from  the  water  by  a  sudden 
grasp  of  the  foot.  It  also  preys  on  lemmings,  hares,  ptar- 
migans, etc.,  chasing  and  striking  at  them  with  its  feet. 
It  makes  its  nest  on  the  ground,  and  lays  three  or  four 
white  eggs,  of  which  more  than  two  are  seldom  hatched. 
Its  length  is  about  two  feet,  and  its  expanse  of  wing  ia 
four  feet. 

The  Great-Eared  Owl,  or  Eagle  Owl,  is  the  largest  of 
the  family.  This  powerful  bird  boldly  attacks  }roung 
fawns,  hares  and  rabbits,  together  with  small  birds.  It 
inhabits  the  north  of  Europe,  but  has  been  several  times  ob- 
served in  England.  It  lays  its  eggs  in  the  clefts  of  rocks 
or  in  ruined  buildings.     Its  length  is  upwards  of  two  feet. 

The  Barn  Owl  affords  another  instance  of  mistaken 
persecution.  This  useful  bird,  whose  carcass  we  so  often 
see  triumphantly  nailed  to  the  barn,  actually  feeds  upon 
and  destroys  the  rats  and  mice  which  bear  it  company  in 
its  undeserved  punishment. 

Few  people  know  what  a  little  bird  this  owl  really  is. 
The  thick,  loose  plumage  is  so  deceptive  that  no  one 
would  imagine  that  it  is  hardly  so  large  as  a  pigeon.  The 
head,  when  stripped  of  its  feathers,  loses  its  previous 
aspect,  being  long  and  narrow,  like  that  of  a  hawk. 

Its  domestic  habits  are  very  curious.  When  irritated 
or  alarmed,  it  snaps  its  beak  loudly,  and  makes  a  hissing 
sound,  something  like  that  of  a  cat  when  provoked.  There 
is  something  very  cat-like  in  the  whole  aspect  of  the  Owl 
— its  round,  soft-looking  face,  in  which  are  set  two  great 
^yes  that  shine  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  and  are  capa- 
ble of  taking  in  every  feeble  ray  of  light,  and  its  noiseless 
movements  in  pursuit  of  its  prey. 


132  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

If  a  mouse  be  given  to  an  owl,  the  bird  seizes  it  across 
the  back  and  gives  it  one  or  two  smart  bites,  much  as  a 
terrier  handles  a  rat.  The  mouse  is  then  jerked  upwards, 
and  caught  again  head  downwards.  A  second  jerk  sends 
the  mouse  half  down  the  owl's  throat,  while  its  tail  re- 
mains sticking  out  of  the  side  of  its  bill,  where  it  is  rolled 
about  as  if  the  owl  were  smoking.  After  some  time  has 
been  spent  in  this  amusement,  another  jerk  causes  the 
mouse  to  disappear  altogether,  and  the  owl  looks  very 
happy  and  contented.  But  if  a  small  bird  is  presented 
to  it,  the  owl  tears  it  up  and  devours  it  piecemeal. 

The  Barn  Owl  lays  three  or  four  eggs  upon  a  mass  of 
those  pellets  which  all  the  owls  disgorge.  There  is  a 
rough,  chalky  look  about  the  eggs  of  the  owl,  which  ren- 
ders them  different  from  the  eggs  of  all  other  birds,  from 
which  they  can  be  distinguished  by  the  touch  alone. 
There  is  a  peculiarity  in  the  domestic  economy  of  this 
owl,  for  it  often  has  at  the  same  time  in  the  same  nest 
young  owls  almost  fledged,  and  eggs  on  which  the  hen 
bird  is  sitting. 

The  length  of  the  bird  is  rather  more  than  twelve  inches. 
Its  color  is  a  bright  yellowish-brown,  marked  with  dots 
and  lines  of  various  tints,  the  lines  being  generally  dark 
and  the  dots  light.  When  attacked  it  throws  itself  on  its 
back  and  fights  vigorously  with  its  claws  and  bill. 

The  Night-jar,  or  Goat-sucker,  sometimes  called  the 
Ferx  Owl,  is  spread  over  Europe.  It  may  be  seen  at  the 
approach  of  evening,  silently  wheeling  round  the  trees, 
capturing  the  nocturnal  moths  and  beetles ;  then  occasion- 
ally settling  and  uttering  its  jarring  cry.  When  fhdng, 
the  birl  sometimes  makes  its  wings  meet  over  its  back, 
and  brings  them  together  with  a  smart  snap.  It  makes 
no  nest,  but  lays  two  mottled  eggs  on  the  bare  ground. 
Its  length  is  ten  inches.  The  Whip-poor- Will  belongs  to 
this  family. 

The  Swift  is  the  largest  and  swiftest  of  the  Swallows. 


Wood's  Natural  History — 5. 

A  MISCHIEVOUS  ELEPHANT  DESTROYING  AN  ORCHARD. 


SAND  MARTIN.  133 

[t  spends  the  whole  day  on  the  wing,  wheeling  with  won- 
derful velocity,  and  occasionally  soaring  until  it  is  hardly 
perceptible,  but  screaming  so  shrilly  that  the  sound  is 
plainly  heard.  The  number  of  insects  which  it  destroys 
is  almost  incredible ;  they  are  retained  in  a  kind  of  pouch 
under  the  tongue,  and,  when  taken  out,  can  hardly  be 
pressed  into  a  tea-spoon.  They  are  intended  for  the 
young,  and  the  supply  is  constantly  renewed.  It  lays 
from  two  to  four  long  white  eggs,  on  a  nest  composed  of 
grass,  straw,  feathers,  silk,  etc.  The  color  of  this  bird  is 
a  dusky  black.  The  length  is  eight  inches,  the  expanse 
of  wing  eighteen  inches,  and  its  weight  barely  one  ounce. 

The  foot  of  the  Swift  is  of  a  singular  form,  unlike  that 
of  any  other  bird.  All  the  toes  are  directed  forward,  there 
being  no  hinder  toe  at  all.  Some  naturalists  say  that  the 
object  of  this  formation  is  that  the  bird  may  be  enabled 
to  climb  up  the  eaves  under  which  its  nest  is  made. 

The  Chimney  Martin  is  the  commonest  of  its  family. 
When  skimming  over  ponds  or  rivers  in  search  of  insects 
the  snap  with  which  it  closes  its  bill  may  easily  be  heard. 
In  its  flight  it  often  dashes  up  the  water  with  its  wings, 
which  action  gave  rise  to  the  opinion  that  Swallows  passed 
the  winter  under  water,  and  rose  in  the  spring.  It  is  so 
eager  after  its  prey  that  it  may  easily  be  caught  with  a  rod 
and  line  baited  with  a  fly. 

It  breeds  twice  in  the  year,  building  a  nest  of  mud 
against  any  convenient  situation,  and  lays  five  eggs.  The 
bird  appears  to  return,  year  by  year,  to  its  old  nest.  The 
whole  of  its  upper  surface  is  a  deep  purplish-black,  its 
forehead  and  throat  chestnut. 

Humboldt  relates  that  he  saw  a  swallow  perch  on  the 
rigging  of  the  vessel  when  it  was  120  miles  from  the  land. 

The  Sand  Martin  is  the  smallest  of  the  Swallows,  but 
nakes  its  appearance  before  any  of  its  brethren.  It 
Duilds  in  cliffs  of  sandstone,  boring  holes  three  feet  in 
lepth,  and  often  winding  in  their  course,  probably  to 


134  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

avoid  a  casual  stone  or  spot  too  hard  for  its  bill,  which, 
although  small  and  apparently  unfitted  for  the  task, 
makes  its  way  through  the  sandstone  with  great  rapidity. 
Where  a  convenient  sand-cliff  exists,  hundreds  of  these 
pretty  little  birds  may  be  seen  working  away  at  their 
habitations,  or  dashing  about  in  the  air,  looking  at  a  dis- 
tance like  white  butterflies,  and  occasionally  returning  to 
the  rock,  which  is  often  completely  honeycombed  by  their 
labors. 

The  House  Martin  follows  a  little  after  the  Swallow, 
and  almost  invariably  takes  possession  of  its  old  nest, 
which  it  repairs  about  May.  It  lays  five  eggs,  closely 
resembling  those  of  the  Sand  Martin.  About  September, 
immense  numbers  may  be  seen  perched  upon  houses  and 
trees  preparatory  to  their  departure. 

The  Esculent  Swallow,  whose  nests  are  considered 
such  a  delicacy  among  the  Chinese,  builds  its  singular 
habitation  in  the  sides  of  almost  inaccessible  cliffs,  so 
that  the  business  of  procuring  them  is  a  most  dangerous 
task.  The  nature  of  the  jell3T-like,  transparent  material 
of  which  the  nests  are  made  is  not  yet  known.  The  nests 
are  chiefly  found  in  Java. 

The  magnificent  family  of  the  Trogons  stands  pre- emi- 
nent in  beauty  and  brilliancy  of  plumage,  the  usual  tint 
being  a  metallic  golden-green,  boldly  contrasted  with  scar- 
let, black  and  brown.  The  toes  are  placed  two  behind  and 
two  before,  like  those  of  the  Woodpeckers. 

The  Resplendent  Trogon  is  the  most  gorgeous  of  the 
family.  Its  long  and  gracefully-curved  tail,  neariy  three 
feet  long,  the  whole  of  the  upper  surface  and  the  throat 
are  a  glowing  green  ;  the  breast  and  under  parts  are  bright 
crimson ;  the  middle  feathers  of  the  tail  black  and  the 
outer  feathers  white.  This  splendid  bird  is  an  inhabitant 
of  Mexico,  and  was  used  by  the  Mexican  nobles  as  an 
ornament  to  their  head-dress. 

From  its  feathers  the  mosaic  pictures  of  the  Mexicans 


KINGFISHER. 


135 


■were  made.  It  is  a  very  difficult  bird  to  stuff,  on  account 
of  the  delicate  texture  of  the  skin,  which  is  so  fragile  that 
it  tears  almost  as  easily  as  wet  blotting  paper. 


The  Kingfisher. 


Kingfishers  are  distinguished  from  other  birds  by  the 
peculiarities  of  their  form. 


23(3  NATURAL    HISTORY. 

The  common  Kingfisher  is  found  in  most  parts  of  Eng- 
land. Scarcely  anything  more  beautiful  can  be  conceived 
than  the  metallic  glitter  of  its  plumage  as  it  shoots  along 
the  banks  of  the  river,  or  darts  into  the  water  after  its 
struggling  prey.  Its  usual  method  of  fishing  is  by  placing 
itself  on  a  stump  or  stone  overhanging  the  water,  from 
which  spot  it  watches  for  the  unsuspecting  fish  beneath. 
After  a  fish  is  caught  the  bird  kills  it  by  beating  it  several 
times  against  its  resting  place  and  then  swallowing  it  head 
foremost. 

It  lays  its  eggs  in  holes  bored  in  the  banks  of  rivers  or 
ponds,  and  appears  to  build  no  nest.  A  pair  of  King- 
fishers, for  two  successive  years,  inhabited  a  bank  of  a 
very  small  stream,  little  more  than  a  drain,  where  no  fish 
lived,  nor  were  there  any  to  be  found  within  a  considerable 
distance. 

The  eggs  are  from  four  to  seven  in  number,  of  a  pearly 
whiteness,  and  remarkably  globular  in  shape. 

The  Hoopoe  is  one  of  the  most  elegant  birds.  Its  beau- 
tiful crest  can  be  raised  or  depressed  at  pleasure,  but  is 
seldom  displayed  unless  the  bird  is  excited  from  some 
cause.  Its  food  consists  of  insects,  which  it  first  batters 
and  molds  into  an  oblong  mass,  and  then  swallows  with  a 
peculiar  jerk  of  the  head. 

They  are  very  common  in  France,  and  may  be  seen  ex- 
amining old  and.  rotten  stumps  for  the  insects  that  congTe- 
gate  in  such  places.  There  they  may  be  seen  in  flocks,  but 
they  never  seem  to  go  over  to  England  in  greater  numbers 
than  one  pair  at  a  time.  A  curious  account  is  given  of  the 
attitude  assumed  by  the  Hoopoe  on  perceiving  a  large  bird 
in  the  air.  "As  soon  as  they  perceived  a  raven,  or  even  a 
pigeon,  they  were  on  their  bellies  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye,  their  wings  stretched  out  by  the  side  of  the  head,  so 
that  the  large  quill  feathers  touched  the  head,  leaning  on 
the  back  with  the  bill  pointing  upwards.  In  this  curious 
posture  they  might  be  taken  for  an  old  rag!" 


m  i 


"■ 


&s»ifmiimi*ffir^'^^ffTmk 


HrrMMTuo-BiBn  and  Nest\ 


f  137  ^ 


138  NATURAL  HISTORY 

The  Hoopoe  lays  from  four  to  seven  gray  eggs  in  the 
hollow  of  a  tree.     Its  length  is  one  foot. 

The  Humming-Bird.  These  little  living  gems  are  ex- 
clusively found  in  the  New  World,  especially  about  the 
tropical  parts,  becoming  gradually  scarcer  as  we  recede 
from  the  tropics  in  either  direction.  Only  two  species  are 
known  to  exist  in  the  northern  parts,  but  in  the  central 
portions  and  in  the  islands  about  Florida  they  absolutely 
swarm.  They  glance  about  in  the  sunshine,  looking  like 
streaks  of  brilliant  light;  and  so  rapid  is  the  vibration  of 
their  fine  and  elastic  wings  that  when  hovering  over  a 
flower  a  humming  or  buzzing  sound  is  produced,  from 
which  peculiarity  the  name  of  Humming-Bird  has  been 
given  them  in  almost  every  language.  Waterton's  de- 
scription is  very  characteristic.  "  Though  least  in  size, 
the  glittering  mantle  of  the  Humming-Bird  entitles  it  to 
the  first  place  in  the  list  of  the  birds  of  the  New  World. 
It  may  truly  be  called  the  Bird  of  Paradise ;  and  had  it 
existed  in  the  Old  World  it  would  have  claimed  the  title 
instt«Mi  jf  the  bird  which  has  now  the  honor  to  bear  it. 
See  it  darting  through  the  air  almost  as  quick  as  thought  I 
now  it  is  within  a  yard  of  your  face — in  an  instant  gone — 
now  it  flutters  from  flower  to  flow  to  sip  the  silver  dew — 
it  is  now  a  ruby — now  a  topaz — now  an  emerald — now  all 
burnished  gold." 

Its  tongue  is  formed  much  like  that  of  the  Woodpecker, 
being  curled  round  the  head,  under  the  skin,  and  thus 
capable  of  being  darted  to  a  considerable  distance. 

Like  many  other  little  creatures,  it  is  remarkable  for  its 
assurance  and  impudence.  It  is  easily  tamed  for  that  very 
reason,  and  has  been  known  to  domesticate  itself  in  an 
hour  from  the  time  of  its  capture,  and  even  when  released 
it  has  returned  again  to  partake  of  the  dainties  which  it 
had  tasted  during  its  captivity. 

There  are  an  immense  number  of  species  of  these  ex- 
quisite birds,  varying  from  the  size  of  a  Swift  to  that  of  a 


NIGHTINGALE.  139 

Humble-Bee.  The  nests  are  neat  and  beautiful,  and,  as 
may  be  imagined,  exceedingly  small.  They  are  composed 
of  down,  cotton,  etc.,  and  are  sometimes  covered  on  the 
outside  with  mosses  and  lichens. 

The  Creepers  are  remarkable  for  their  long,  slender  bills 
and  claws,  adapted  for  climbing  trees  and  capturing  in- 
sects. The  common  Creeper  may  often  be  seen  running 
spirally  up  the  trunks  of  trees,  and  probing  the  bark  with 
its  bill;  and  so  firmly  do  the  claws  hold  that  when  shot 
it  does  not  always  fall,  but  remains  clinging  to  the  tree.  Its 
nest  is  made  in  a  decayed  tree.  The  eggs  are  from  seven 
to  nine  in  number. 

The  Wren  shares  with  the  rcbin  some  immunity  from 
juvenile  sportsmen.  Although  it  may  be  fearlessly  hop- 
ping about  in  the  hedge,  jerking  its  funny  little  tail,  and 
playing  its  antics  just  at  the  muzzle  of  the  gun,  few  boys 
will  fire  at  it — a  privilege  for  which  it  is  difficult  to  give  a 
reason,  except,  perhaps,  the  assertion  that  "  The  robin  and 
the  wren  are  God's  cock  and  nen:7'  and  although  why 
these  two  quarrelsome  birds  should  be  selected  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  say.  Perhaps  the  Robin  enjoys  his  immunity  from 
the  "  Babes  in  the  Wood,"  and  the  Wren  makes  a  conveni- 
ent rhyme. 

The  nest  of  the  Wren  is  built  in  any  convenient  cranny; 
any  ivy-covered  tree,  the  thatch  of  a  barn,  or  a  warm 
scare-crow,  are  all  used  by  this  fearless  little  bird.  The 
nest  is  usually  of  an  oven-shape,  always  covered  on  the 
outside  with  some  material  resembling  the  color  of  the 
objects  round  it,  such  as  green  moss  if  built  among  ivy, 
or  brown  lichen  if  built  on  a  rock  or  in  the  fork  of  a  with- 
ered branch.     The  eggs  are  six  or  eight  in  number. 

The  Nightingale.  The  wild  and  spiritual  melody  of 
its  marvelous  notes  sounds  comparatively  weak  unless 
backed  by  the  accompaniments  of  night  and  tranquillity; 
for  its  inimitable  song  loses  great  part  of  its  beauty  when 
uttered  by  day,  deadened  and  confused  with  other  sounds- 


140  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

In  many  counties  of  England  its  sweet  and  almost 
nightly  strains  are  frequently  heard.  The  fields  and  col- 
lege gardens  of  Oxford  are  full  of  Nightingales.  The  male 
is  the  vocalist. 

The  Warblers  are  spread  over  almost  the  entire  globe. 
The  Blackcap,  almost  a  rival  of  the  Nightingale,  is  recog- 
nized by  the  black  color  of  the  crown  of  the  head.  Only 
the  males  are  decorated,  the  crown  of  the  head  of  the  femah. 
being  dark  brown.  Its  sweet  notes  are  poured  forth  from 
the  concealment  of  some  thicket  or  tuft  of  trees,  where  it 
trusts  to  the  density  of  the  foliage  to  elude  discovery.  Like 
the  American  Mocking-Bird,  it  can  imitate  the  songs  of 
other  birds  with  such  perfect  inflection  that  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  detect  the  imposture.  Among  bushes  and 
brambles  it  builds  its  nest,  which  is  made  of  dried  grass, 
moss  and  hairs.  The  eggs  are  five  in  number.  Its  length 
is  nearly  six  inches. 

The  Golden-crested  Regulus  is  one  of  the  smallest 
of  British  birds.  Fir  plantations  are  its  favorite  resort, 
and  there  it  may  be  seen  hopping  about  the  branches,  or 
running  round  them,  head  downwards,  in  search  of  the 
insects  hidden  beneath  the  bark.  Its  name  is  derived 
from  the  orange-colored  tuft  of  feathers  on  the  crown  of 
its  head,  for  which  reason  it  is  often  called  the  Kinglet 
Its  note  is  weak,  but  very  pleasing,  and  much  resembles 
that  of  the  common  Wren.  The  female  is  very  bold  while 
sitting,  and  will  permit  close  observation  without  quitting 
the  nest.  The  nest  itself  is  an  object  of  great  beauty.  It 
is  usually  placed  on  the  under  side  of  a  fir  branch,  shel- 
tered by  the  overhanging  foliage,  and  sometimes  further 
protected  by  a  large  bunch  of  cones  forming  a  kind  of 
roof  over  it.  The  eggs  are  from  six  to  ten  in  number.  Its 
length  is  over  three  inches. 

The  Redbreast,  or  Robin  Redbreast,  as  it  is  termed, 
has,  by  its  fearless  conduct,  earned  itself  golden  opinions 
from  all  kinds-  of  men.     Every  nation  seems  to  protect  it; 


Group  op  Tits. 


(141) 


142  NATURAL  HISTORF. 

and  it  lives  unharmed,  possibly  on  account  of  its  oft-told 
charity  towards  the  Babes  in  the  Wood. 

In  the  Winter,  when  the  berries  are  gone,  insects  dead, 
and  the  worms  hidden  under  the  hard,  frozen  soil,  then  the 
Robin  flies  for  refuge  to  the  habitations  of  man  for  shelter 
and  food.  It  is  very  amusing  to  see  the  half-trusting,  half- 
fearful  look  with  which  it  hops  to  the  window-sill  for  the 
first  time.  After  a  while  it  becomes  bold,  and  taps  at  the 
window,  if  the  expected  crumbs  are  not  thrown  out.  Be- 
fore very  long  it  ventures  to  enter  the  room,  hops  about 
on  the  table,  and  quite  seems  to  consider  as  a  right  what 
was  first  merely  a  favor.  When  once  established  it  is 
very  jealous,  and  will  not  suffer  a  friend  to  be  partaker 
of  the  same  comforts,  but  attacks  him  with  the  greatest 
fury ;  so  the  unfortunate  second  comer  has  to  wait  shiver- 
ing outside  the  window,  with  his  feathers  puffed  up,  and 
his  little  eyes  glancing  from  the  depths  of  his  plumage. 

The  nest  of  this  bird  is  built  in  the  crevice  of  an  old 
ivied  wall,  in  a  bank,  sheltered  by  the  roots  of  a  tree,  or  in 
a  mass  of  ivy  clinging  to  an  old  tree.  The  eggs  are  five  in 
number. 

The  birds  of  the  family  of  the  Tits  are  remarkable  fot 
their  active  habits.  There  are  few  who  have  not  seen  these 
interesting  little  birds  twisting  round  the  branches,  per- 
fectly unconcerned  at  the  presence  of  the  spectator,  some- 
times hanging  head  downwards,  sometimes  chasing  an  un- 
lucky beetle  along  the  bark,  and  invariably  catching  it,  in 
spite  of  its  swift  limbs  and  active  wings;  sometimes  twist- 
ing off  a  bud,  and  pulling  it  to  pieces  with  marvelous  ra- 
pidity, in  order  to  secure  the  lurking  caterpillar  within; 
sometimes  pecking  away  at  a  piece  of  loose  bark,  and  ex- 
tracting an  unwilling  spider  by  one  of  its  legs  left  incau- 
tiously projecting  from  its  lurking-place. 

The  little  Blue  Titmouse  is  well  known.  It  is  most 
amusingly  courageous,  and  from  the  strenuous  resistance 
it  offers  to  its  nan+nrer.  ba.s  acouired  from  rustic  hnv*  th*> 


WAGTAILS,  143 

name  of  "  Billy-biter."  The  angry  hiss  of  the  female  has 
frequently  caused  an  intruding  hand  to  be  rapidly  with- 
drawn, for  the  sound  is  so  like  the  hiss  of  a  snake,  and  the 
little  beak  is  so  sharp,  that  few  have  the  courage  to  pro- 
ceed with  their  investigations.  A  pair  of  these  birds  built 
their  nest  in  the  coping  of  a  railway  station  in  England, 
not  two  feet  from  the  fiery  and  noisy  engines,  which  were 
constantly  passing.  The  men  respected  the  courage  of  the 
little  birds,  and  this  whole  brood  was  hatched  and  suffered 
to  fly  at  liberty. 

The  utter  contempt  which  this  bird  entertains  for  fire- 
arms often  leads  to  its  destruction,  for  when  the  school- 
boy has  been  wasting  his  powder  and  shot  in  attempting 
to  hit  larks  and  such  large  game,  he  consoles  himself  by 
shooting  the  unfortunate  Titmouse,  who  will  allow  him  to 
come  so  close  that  few  vestiges  of  it  remain  except  a  tuft 
of  blue  feathers. 

It  lays  from  six  to  eight  eggs.  Its  length  is  about  four 
and  a  half  inches. 

The  Wagtails,  so  named  from  the  almost  incessant  vi- 
bration of  their  tails,  are  exclusively  confined  to  the  Old 
World.  The  Pied  Wagtail  is  the  most  common  of  its 
race.  We  often  see  it  pass  rapidly,  with  its  peculiar  dip- 
ping flight;  it  settles  on  the  ground  and  wags  its  tail;  it 
runs  a  few  paces,  and  wags  its  tail  again  :  pecks  at  an  in- 
sect, and  its  tail  vibrates.  It  does  not  hop,  like  the  War- 
blers, Finches,  etc.,  but  runs  with  great  rapidity,  and  alto- 
gether looks  very  like  a  diminutive  Magpie.  Sand-banks 
by  the  sides  of  rivers  are  the  usual  resort  of  these  birds, 
where  they  may  almost  always  be  seen,  running  about  by 
the  water's  edge,  sometimes  snatching  at  an  incautious 
May-fly,  sometimes  wading  into  the  water  after  a  caddus- 
worm  or  a  stray  grub,  or  pecking  at  a  little  minnow,  which 
has  come  too  near  the  surface— and  then  it  flies  off  to 
another  spot  to  repeat  the  same  manoeuvres.  This  bird 
also  greatly  frequents  pastures,  and  may  be  seen  running 


14:4  NATURAL  HISTORY* 

about  among  the  cows  in  the  most  nonchalant  manne* 
imaginable,  catching  the  flies  that  torment  those  animals 
in  the  summer,  or  flying  off  to  its  unfinished  nest  with  a 
beak  full  of  hairs.  Their  nests  are  built  near  the  water,  in 
crevices  among  stones,  or  in  the  hole  of  a  wall.  Frequently 
when  stones  are  piled  by  a  wet  quarry,  several  nests  may 
be  found  in  one  heap  of  stones.  The  eggs  are  four  or  five 
in  number.     Its  length  is  over  seven  inches. 

The  Water  Ouzel,  or  Dipper,  is  found  principally  in 
hilly  places  where  there  are  clear  and  rapid  streams.  There 
it  may  be  seen  to  go  through  its  far-famed  movements  un- 
der the  water,  which  have  .given  rise  to  so  much  contro- 
versy. It  dives  for  considerable  distances  with  apparent 
ease,  and  has  a  habit  of  dipping  and  rising  repeatedly, 
from  which  practice  its  name  has  been  derived. 

The  nest  is  usually  built  by  the  water-side,  and  is  care- 
fully concealed.  In  appearance  it  is  not  unlike  that  of 
the  Wren,  being  made  of  intertwined  mosses,  with  an  en- 
trance at  the  side.  It  lays  five  largish  eggs,  of  a  pure 
white.     Its  length  is  about  seven  inches. 

The  Song-Thrush,  Throstle,  or  Mavis,  is  deservedly 
considered  one  of  our  best  singing-birds.  Its  powerful  and 
rich  notes  may  be  heard  in  January,  when  most  of  the 
other  singing  birds  are  either  silent  or  have  departed.  Its 
nest  is  built  almost  before  any  other  bird  has  commenced, 
and  may  often  be  seen  conspicuously  placed  in  a  bush 
some  time  before  the  leaves  have  begun  to  sprout.  In 
•^rder  to  defend  the  callow  young  from  the  cold  winds  of 
tne  season  when  they  are  hatched,  the  nest  is  more  sub- 
stantial than  birds  are  accustomed  to  build,  being  thickly 
plastered  within  with  a  coating  of  mud,  effectually  keeping 
oat  the  chilly  blasts.  Were  it  only  for  its  singing  powers, 
the  Thrush  would  deserve  protection ;  but  the  services  it 
renders  to  the  gardener  in  devouring  insects,  snails  and 
other  destructive  creatures,  entitle  it  to  a  double  share  of 
regard. 


MOCKING-BIRD.  145 

It  is  amusing  to  watch  a  Thrush  listening  for  the  sound 
of  the  earth-worm  working  his  way  through  the  ground, 
or  the  gnawing  teeth  of  the  cockchaffer  grub.  The  grub 
he  unearths  and  devours  without  further  ceremony,  but 
he  knows  that  if  he  is  not  cautious,  the  earth-worm  will 
withdraw  itself  out  of  his  reach.  He  therefore  gives  seve- 
ral hops  near  the  worm,  which,  fancying  that  it  hears  its 
enemy  the  mole  pursuing  it,  comes  to  the  surface,  and  is 
instantly  seized  in  triumph  by  the  crafty  thrush. 

It  clears  the  shells  from  snails  by  beating  them  against 
a  stone,  and  when  it  has  found  a  place  for  that  purpose, 
it  returns  to  the  same  spot  with  its  prey,  so  that  heaps  of 
broken  snail-shells  may  often  be  f^und  where  the  Thrushes 
have  been  at  work. 

The  eggs  of  the  Thrush  are  five  in  number,  of  a  bluish  - 
green  color,  spotted  with  deep  reddish  brown.  Sometimes 
the  spots  are  absent. 

The  Blackbird  is  a  delightful  songster,  whose  jetty  hue 
and  orange-tawny  bill  are  well-known.  It  is  a  very  shy 
bird,  and  if  disturbed  in  a  hedge,  has  a  habit  of  darting 
through  it,  and  then  escaping  on  the  other  side,  uttering  a 
sharp  cry  of  alarm.  Its  habits  are  like  those  of  the  Thrush, 
especially  in  its  zeal  for  unearthing  the  cockchaffer  grubs, 
and  possibly  for  eating  cherries  when  they  are  ripe. 

Its  nest  is  built  usually  at  the  foot  of  a  hedge,  frequently 
in  the  very  centre  of  a  holly  bush,  safe  from  most  enemies, 
except  weasles  and  school-boys. 

The  eggs  are  five  in  number,  of  a  bluish -green  color, 
spotted  with  brown. 

The  Mocking-Bird  is  a  native  of  most  parts  of  America. 
This  wonderful  bird  stands  pre-eminent  in  powers  of 
song.  Not  only  are  its  natural  notes  bold  and  spirited, 
but  it  has  the  faculty  of  imitating  with  deceptive  fidelity 
every  sound  it  hears.  To  its  flexible  organs,  the  harsh 
setting  of  a  saw,  the  song  of  a  Nightingale,  the  creaking  of  a 
wheel,  the  whistled  tune  of  a  passer-by,  the  full  andmel* 

10 


L46  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

low  notes  of  the  Thrush,  the  barking  of  a  dog,  the  crowing 
of  a  cock,  and  the  savage  scream  of  the  Bald  Eagle,  are 
each  equally  easy  of  execution,  and  follow  one  another 
with  such  marvellous  rapidity  that  few  can  believe  that 
the  insignificant  brown  bird  before  them  is  the  sole  author 
of  these  varied  sounds.  The  Virginian  Nightingale  and 
the  Canary  hear  their  exquisite  modulations  performed 
with  such  superior  execution  that  the  vanquished  song- 
sters are  silent  from  mere  mortification,  while  the  tri- 
umphant Mocking-Bird  only  redoubles  his  efforts.  Wilson 
in  describing  this  bird  says  :  "  His  expanded  wings  and 
tail  glistening  with  white,  and  the  buoyant  gayety  of  his 
action  arresting  the  eye,  as  his  song  does  most  irresistibly 
the  ear,  he  sweeps  round  with  ecstasy,  and  mounts  and  de- 
scends as  his  song  swells  or  dies  away.  He  often  deceives 
the  sportsman,  and  sends  him  in  search  of  birds  that  are 
not  perhaps  within  miles  of  him,  but  whose  notes  he  ex- 
actly imitates ;  even  birds  themselves  are  frequently  im- 
posed upon  by  this  admirable  mimic,  and  are  decoyed  by 
the  fancied  calls  of  their  mates,  or  dive  with  precipitation 
into  the  depth  of  thickets  at  the  scream  of  what  they  sup- 
pose to  be  the  Sparrow-hawk." 

While  sitting  on  its  eggs  it  is  an  exceedingly  courageous 
bird,  attacking  without  discrimination  man,  dogs,  or  any 
animal  who  may  approach  too  near  the  nest.  But  the 
black  snake  is  the  special  object  of  its  vengeance.  The 
snake,  who  has  perhaps  just  arrived  at  the  vicinity  of 
the  nest,  and  is  contemplating  a  pleasant  breakfast  on  the 
young  or  eggs,  is  violently  attacked  by  the  enraged  Mock- 
ing-Bird, who,  by  repeated  blows  on  the  head,  generally 
destroys  its  enemy,  and  then,  mounting  on  a  bush,  pours 
forth  a  triumphant  song  of  victory. 

The  nest  is  made  generally  in  a  bush  or  apple-tree,  fre- 
quently close  to  houses,  as  the  bird  is  protected  by  the  in- 
habitants. The  Mocking-Bird  is  often  kept  tame,  in  which 
case,  so  far  from  its  imitative  powers  showing  any  decrease; 


148  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

the  variety  of  domestic  sounds  heard  about  the  house  is 
often  perplexing. 

The  Spotted  Flycatcher  may  be  considered  as  the 
type  of  the  entire  family.  It  may  be  seen  in  gardens  and 
orchards,  going  through  the  evolutions  that  have  given  it 
its  name.  From  some  elevated  spot  it  watches  for  a  pass- 
ing insect,  on  seeing  which  it  darts  from  its  post,  secures 
the  insect  in  the  air,  and  returns  to  the  same  spot  by  a 
short  circular  flight.  It  is  not  a  timid  bird,  and  will  per- 
mit an  observer  to  stand  quite  close  to  it,  provided  that  he 
does  not  disturb  it.  Its  note  is  a  weak  chirp,  and  even  that 
is  not  often  heard. 

The  nest  is  built  usually  in  holes  of  trees  or  walls,  or 
sometimes  between  a  branch  of  a  wall  fruit-tree  and  the 
wall  itself. .  The  eggs  are  five  in  number.  Its  length  is 
about  five  inches. 

The  Shrike  or  Butcher-Birds  well  deserve  their  name, 
as  they  live  upon  insects  and  small  birds,  whioh  thev  kill, 
and  afterwards  transfix  with  a  thorn,  preparatory  to  de- 
vouring them.  They  take  their  prey  much  after  the  same 
manner  as  the  Flycatchers,  by  darting  on  it  from  some 
place  of  concealment. 

The  Great  Gray  Shrike  feeds  upon  mice,  birds,  frogs 
and  other  small  animals.  After  pouncing  upon  its  prey, 
the  Shrike,  by  a  few  blows  on  the  head  from  its  powerful 
bill,  destroys  it.  It  is  then  carried  to  the  nearest  hedge, 
impaled  on  a  thorn,  and  the  Shrike  devours  it  at  his 
leisure.  Large  insects  are  treated  in  the  same  manner. 
The  object  of  this  impalement  is  apparently  that  the  crea- 
tures thus  suspended  should  become  tender  or  "high." 
The  bird,  after  hanging  a  lizard  or  a  mouse  in  this  fashion, 
generally  goes  off  and  fetches  another,  always  preferring  to 
eat  those  which  have  remained  longest  on  the  thorn,  and 
which  are,  asit  were,  cooked  in  the  sun. 

There  is  a  strong  bodily  resemblance  between  this 
Shrike  and  the  Mocking-Bird,  the  distinction  lying  gener- 


MAGPIE.  149 

ally  in  the  outline  ;  while  the  plumage  is  so  similar,  that 
many  persons  have  actually  confused  the  two  birds,  giving 
to  the  one  the  habits  of  the  other.  Moreover,  the  resem- 
blance is  not  merely  in  outward  form  ;  the  Gray  Shrike 
can  also  imitate  the  notes  of  other  birds,  and  often  does  so. 

The  name  Excubitor,or  Sentinel,  is  given  it  from  its  habit 
of  watching  for  birds  of  prey,  and  chattering  loudly  di- 
rectly it  perceives  them,  thereby  proving  that,  like  most 
other  tyrants,  it  has  a  great  objection  to  suffering  any  in- 
jury itself. 

The  nest  is  built  on  trees,  and  contains  about  six  eggs. 
Its  length  is  about  teo  inches. 

The  Jay,  so  well  known  for  the  beautiful  blue  markings 
on  its  wings,  is  rather  a  shy  bird,  preferring  to  reside  in 
the  thickest  woods,  and  seldom  coming  into  the  open  coun- 
try. It  is  easily  tamed  when  young,  and  is  very  amusing 
when  domesticated. 

It  possesses  great  talents  for  mimicry.  It  has  been 
known  to  imitate  the  sound  of  a  saw,  the  bleat  of  a  lamb 
and  the  neighing  of  a  horse  with  the  most  perfect  accuracy. 
Although  its  natural  voice  is  harsh  and  grating,  yet  it  can 
imitate  the  sweet  notes  of  singing  birds,  such  as  the  Green- 
finch, with  wonderful  fidelity.  It  has  also  frequently  been 
taught  to  articulate  words. 

The  name  of  Glandarius  has  been  given  to  the  Jay,  be- 
cause it  feeds  on  vegetable  productions,  such  as  acorns, 
etc.,  more  than  the  true  Crows.  It  is  also  partial  to  fruits, 
especially  ripe  cherries.  It  is  also  said  to  devour  eggs  and 
young  birds. 

Its  nest  is  built  about  twenty  feet  from  the  ground,  the 
upper  part  of  a  thick  bush  being  preferred.  The  eggs  are 
five  or  six  in  number.    Its  length  is  nearly  14  inches. 

The  Magpie  seems  to  rival  the  Parrot  in  the  proud  title 
of  the  Monkey  of  the  Birds  (the  Raven  being  the  ornitho- 
logical baboon).  Its  thieving  and  hiding  propensities  are 
proverbial. 

ZO— Natural  History 


150  NATURAL  HISTORY, 

Its  nest  is  built  on  a  high  tree,  and  curiously  defended 
with  thorns,  having  a  small  hole  just  large  enough  to  ad- 
mit the  owners,  so  that  the  liberal  use  of  a  pocket-knife  is 
frequently  requisite  in  order  to  obtain  the  eggs.  The  nest 
is  covered  with  a  dome  of  thorns,  and  its  interior  is  de- 
fended try  a  coating  of  mud,  worked  smooth.  The  eggs 
are  five  in  number.     Its  length  is  about  eighteen  inches. 

The  Raven  is  very  common  in  Europe,  Asia  and 
America,  but  is  now  seldom  seen  except  in  a  domesticated 
state.  It  is  frequently  found  in  the  Hebrides.  In  those  isl- 
ands it  lives  principally  on  carrion  of  various  kinds,  such 
as  a  dead  sheep  or  lamb,  whose  death  the  Raven  is  accused 
with  some  justice  of  hastening,  and  on  fishes  or  cetaceous 
animals  which  have  been  cast  on  shore  by  the  waves.  In 
these  cases  the  Raven  conducts  itself  much  in  the  manner 
of  the  Vulture.  It  commences  by  taking  out  the  eye  and 
tongue,  and  then  proceeds  to  tear  open  the  abdomen, 
operations  for  which  its  sharp  and  powerful  bill  seems 
quite  as  well  fitted  as  the  hooked  beak  of  the  rapacious 
birds.  It  is  a  very  crafty  bird,  and  can  with  difficulty  be 
approached ;  but  by  laying  a  dead  carcass  near  its  haunts, 
and  being  carefully  concealed,  it  may  be  seen  cautiously 
approaching ;  first,  perching  on  an  eminence,  it  looks  care- 
fully round  ;  then  advancing  with  a  sidelong  step,  ex- 
amines its  expected  prey.  When  fully  satisfied,  it  pecks 
out  the  eyes,  and  proceeds  to  satiate  itself  with  food.  The 
Raven  seems  to  revel  in  storms,  and  to  be  deterred  by  no 
inclemency  of  weather  from  seeking  its  prey. 

Although  formerly  so  plentiful  that  innumerable  omens 
were  drawn  from  its  appearance,  its  croaking,  or  its  flight, 
it  has  almost  become  extinct. 

A  Raven  used  to  watch  a  gardener  taking  particular 
pains  to  prop  up  and  secure  a  valuable  plant.  His  labor 
was  always  in  vain,  for  the  Raven,  with  a  sidelong  step  and 
an  unconcerned  air,  as  if  he  were  thinking  of  anything 
but  the  plant,  would  sidle  by  it,  when  one  wrench  of  his 


i^^r^^ 


JJV  ,--.'- 


152  NATURAL  HISTORY, 

iron  bill  laid  the  plant  on  the  earth,  and  the  Raven  moved 
off  with  an  air  of  innocence.  The  lady  to  whom  the  gar- 
den belonged  was  quite  afraid  of  the  bird,  and  declared 
that  she  almost  believed  that  it  was  possessed  by  some  evil 
spirit.  It  used  to  walk  behind  her,  so  that  she  could  never 
see  it,  for  when  she  turned  round,  the  Raven  hopped  round 
too,  and  kept  himself  completely  out  of  her  sight.  At 
last  it  became  so  very  mischievous  that  it  was  sent  away. 

It  has  a  great  capacity  for  imitating  sounds,  and  can  be 
taught  to  pronounce  whole  sentences,  or  sing  songs  with 
wonderful  accuracy. 

In  the  northern  parts  of  Scotland  it  makes  its  nest  on 
high  rocks,  but  not  unfrequently  builds  on  the  summit  of 
a  tall  tree.  The  nest  is  a  large,  irregular  structure  of  heath, 
grass,  wool  and  feathers,  and  sea-weed,  if  it  builds  near 
the  shore.  It  lays  from  four  to  seven  eggs.  Its  length  is 
26  inches,  and  the  expanse  of  wing  nearly  60  inches. 

The  Rook  inhabits  almost  every  part  of  Europe,  and  is 
very  common  in  England,  where  it  lives  in  a  kind  of  semi- 
domestication,  usually  inhabiting  a  grove  of  trees  near  a 
house,  or  in  a  park,  where  it  is  protected  by  the  owner, 
although  he  makes  it  pay  for  this  accommodation  by  shoot- 
ing the  young  ones  every  year.  Apparently  in  consequence 
of  this  annual  persecution,  the  Rook  has  an  intense  horror 
oi  guns,  perceiving  them  at  a  great  distance.  While  feed- 
ing in  flocks  in  the  fields,  or  following  the  plowman  in  his 
course,  and  devouring  the  worms  and  grubs  turned  up  by 
the  share,  the  Rook  has  always  a  sentinel  planted  in  a 
neighboring  tree,  who  instantly  gives  the  alarm  at  the  sight 
of  a  gun,  or  other  suspicious-looking  object. 

The  good  which  the  Rook  does  by  devouring  the  grubs 
of  the  cockchaffer  and  the  tipulus,  or  daddy-long-legs,  both 
of  which  are  exceedingly  injurious  to  the  crops,  more  than 
compensates  for  the  damage  it  sometimes  causes  by  pull- 
ing up  young  corn,  or  newly-set  potato  cuttings;  in  the 
latter  case  more,  I  believe,  to  get  at  the  wireworms,  which 


crow.  153 

crowd  to  slices  of  potato,  than  to  eat  the  vegetable  itself. 
In  the  fruit  season,  the  Rook,  like  most  other  birds,  likes 
to  have  his  share  of  the  cherries,  pears  and  walnuts,  but 
may  be  easily  kept  away  by  the  occasional  sight  of  a 
gun. 

Towards  evening  the  Rooks  may  be  seen  flying  in  long 
lines  to  their  resting-place.  They  then  perform  sundry 
evolutions  in  the  air,  and  finally  settle  to  rest. 

Round  the  base  of  the  Rook's  beak  is  a  whitish-looking 
skin,  denuded  of  feathers,  the  reason  or  cause  of  which  is 
not  very  obvious.  A  white  variety  of  the  Rook  is  some- 
times seen. 

The  eggs  of  the  bird  are  five  in  number.  Its  length  is 
nineteen  inches. 

The  Jackdaw  is  a  well-known  bird.  It  does  not  build 
in  the  branches  of  trees  like  the  rook,  but  prefers  holes  in 
decayed  trees  or  old  buildings,  particularly  frequenting 
church-towers  and  steeples.  The  Jackdaw  feeds  upon 
almost  any  substance  that  it  can  find.  It  kills  mice  with 
a  single  blow  of  its  beak,  and  then  devours  them  piece- 
meal. Grasshoppers,  beetles,  etc.,  are  also  killed  by  a 
squeeze  across  the  thorax,  and  the  head,  wings  and  legs 
are  twisted  off  before  the  bird  begins  to  eat  them.  It  treats 
bees,  wasps  and  other  stinged  insects  with  much  more 
caution.  The  feathers  upon  the  crown  of  its  head  are  of 
a  grayish-white  color,  a  peculiarity  instantly  distinguish- 
ing it  from  the  Rook.  It  is  frequently  kept  tame,  and  is 
very  amusing  in  captivity. 

The  eggs  are  of  a  lighter  color  than  those  of  the  Rook, 
smaller  and  more  sparingly  spotted.  Its  length  is  four- 
teen inches. 

The  Crow,  or  Carrion  Crow,  as  it  is  erroneously  called, 
seldom  feeds  on  carrion  ;  for  poor  indeed  would  be  his 
meals  were  he  dependent  on  dead  sheep  or  horses  for  a 
livelihood.  Possibly  the  name  was  given  as  a  distinction 
between  it  and  the  Rook      Waterton  states  that  the  flesh 


154  NATURAL  HISTORY, 

of  the  Carrion  Crow  is  just  as  good  as  that  of  the  Rook,  and 
relates  how  he  once  served  up  a  pie  of  these  birds  to  some 
friends,  who  thought  them  pigeons.  It  will  also  eat  cher- 
ries and  walnuts  like  the  Rook,  and  when  the  supply  of  in- 
sects has  failed,  it  will  then  turn  its  attention  to  the  duck- 
pond  or  farm-yard,  and  carry  off  a  young  duckling  or 
chicken. 

It  also  carries  off  eggs,  by  pouncing  upon  them,  and 
driving  its  bill  through  the  shell,  and  even  mice  and  rats 
are  not  unaccustomed  food. 

The  nests  of  this  bird  are  placed  on  the  summit  of  some 
tall  tree,  and  contain  about  five  eggs.  Its  length  is  nine- 
teen inches. 

The  Chough  is  rather  larger  than  the  Jackdaw,  and  is 
principally  distinguished  by  the  red  hue  of  its  bill  and 
legs.  It  inhabits  the  counties  of  the  western  coast  ot 
England.  When  tame,  it  shows  a  very  inquisitive  dispo- 
sition, examining  every  novelty  with  the  greatest  attention. 
It  builds  its  nest  in  the  cavities  of  high  cliffs,  and  lays  four 
or  five  eggs.     Its  length  is  seventeen  inches. 

The  Emerald  Bird  of  Paradise. — This  most  gorgeous 
and  elegant  bird  was  once  the  subject  of  much  discussion 
between  naturalists.  The  natives  of  New  .Guinea  were 
accustomed  to  dry  them,  having  first  cut  off  their  legs, 
and  then  to  offer  them  for  sale.  In  this  footless  state  they 
reached  Europe,  where  it  was  universally  stated  that  the 
bird  lived  always  in  the  air,  buoyed  up  by  the  lightness 
of  its  feathery  covering ;  that  the  shoulders  were  used  as 
its  nest;  that  the  only  rest  it  took  was  by  suspending  itself 
from  a  branch  by  the  filamentary  feathers  of  the  tail;  that 
its  food  was  the  morning  dew ;  together  with  many  other 
conjectures  not  less  ingenious  than  amusing. 

This  bird  is  about  the  size  of  a  Jay.  Its  body,  breast 
and  lower  parts  are  of  a  deep  rich  brown,  the  front  set 
close  with  black  feathers  shot  with  green  ;  the  throat  is  of 
i  rich  golden  green ;  the  head  yellow ;  the  sides  of  the 


Emerald  BntD  of  Paradise.     King  Bird  of  Paradise. 

(  155) 


156  NATURAL  HISTORY, 

tail  are  clothed  with  a  splendid  plume  of  long,  downy 
feathers,  of  a  soft  yellow  color.  By  these  are  placed  two 
long  filamentous  shafts,  which  extend  nearly  two  feet  in 
length. 

Of  these  beautiful  feathers  the  bird  is  so  proud  that  it 
will  not  suffer  the  least  speck  of  dirt  to  remain  upon 
them,  and  it  is  constantly  examining  its  plumage  to  see 
that  there  are  no  spots  on  it.  When  in  its  wild  state,  it 
always  flies  and  sits  with  its  face  to  the  wind,  lest  its  ele- 
gant filmy  plumes  should  be  disarranged. 

So  far  from  living  exclusively  on  dew,  it  eats  no  small 
amount  of  insects,  such  as  grasshoppers,  which  it  will  not 
touch  if  dead,  and  commences  its  repast  by  stripping  off 
the  legs  and  wings.  When  in  confinement,  it  also  eats 
boiled  rice,  plantains  and  other  vegetables ;  but  in  the 
wild  state  it  seems  to  feed  mostly  on  the  seeds  of  the  teak- 
tree,  and  a  kind  of  fig.  There  are  several  species  of  Para- 
dise Birds. 

The  Baltimore  Oriole  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  whole  of 
Northern  America,  its  range  extending  from  Canada  to 
Mexico — even  as  far  south  as  Brazil. 

It  is  a  migratory  bird,  arriving  about  the  beginning  of 
May,  and  departing  towards  the  beginning  of  September. 
The  name  of  Baltimore  Oriole  has  been  given  to  it  because 
its  colors  of  black  and  orange  are  those  of  the  arms  be- 
longing to  Lord  Baltimore,  to  whom  Maryland  formerly 
belonged.  This  species  is  remarkably  familiar  and  fear- 
less of  man,  hanging  its  beautiful  pensile  nest  upon  the 
garden  trees,  and  even  venturing  into  the  streets  wherever 
a  green  tree  flourishes,  and  chanting  its  wild,  mellow  notes 
in  close  proximity  to  the  sounds  and  sights  of  a  populous 
city. 

The  nest  of  the  Baltimore  Oriole  is  most  ingeniously 
woven.  The  materials  of  which  this  beautiful  habitation 
is  made  are  flax,  various  kinds  of  vegetable  fibres,  wool 
and  hair,  matted  together,  so  as  to  resemble  felt  in  consist- 


BALTIMORE  ORIOLE.  157 

ency.  A  number  of  long  horse-hairs  are  passed  completely 
through  the  fibres,  sewing  it  firmly  together  with  large  and 
irregular  but  strong  and  judiciously-placed  stitching.  In 
one  of  these  nests  Wilson  found  that  several  of  the  hairs 
used  for  this  purpose  measured  two  feet  in  length.  The 
nest  is  in  the  form  of  a  long  purse,  and  at  the  bottom  is 
arranged  a  heap  of  soft  cow's-hair  and  similar  substances, 
in  which  the  eggs  find  a  warm  resting-place.  The  female 
bird  seems  to  be  the  chief  architect,  receiving  a  constant 
supply  of  materials  from  her  mate,  and  occasionally  re- 
jecting the  fibres  or  hairs  which  he  may  bring,  and  send- 
ing him  off  for  another  load  better  to  her  taste. 

Since  the  advent  of  civilization,  the  Baltimore  Oriole 
has  availed  himself  largely  of  his  advantages,  and  instead 
of  troubling  himself  with  a  painful  search  after  individual 
hairs,  wherewith  to  sew  his  hammock  together,  keeps  a 
look-out  for  any  bits  of  stray  thread  that  may  be  thrown 
away  by  human  sempstresses,  and  makes  use  of  them  in 
the  place  of  the  hairs.  So  sharp-sighted  is  the  bird,  and 
so  quick  are  his  movements,  that  during  the  bleaching 
reason  the  owners  of  the  thread  are  forced  to  keep  a  con- 
stant watch  upon  their  property  as  it  lies  upon  the  grass 
or  hangs  upon  the  boughs,  knowing  that  the  Oriole  is  ever 
ready  to  pounce  upon  such  valuable  material,  and  straight- 
way to  weave  it  into  his  nest.  Pieces  of  loose  string,  skeins 
of  silk,  or  even  the  bands  with  which  young  grafts  are 
tied,  are  equally  sought  by  this  ingenious  bird,  and  ofter. 
purloined,  to  the  discomfiture  of  the  needlewoman  or  the 
gardener.  The  average  size  of  the  nest  is  six  or  seven 
inches  in  depth,  and  three  or  four  in  diameter.  Wilson 
thinks  that  the  bird  improves  in  nest-building  by  practice, 
and  that  the  best  specimens  of  architecture  are  the  work 
of  the  oldest  birds.  Its  food  seems  to  be  almost  entirely 
of  an  animal  nature,  and  to  consist  of  caterpillars,  beetles 
and  other  insects,  most  of  them  injurious  to  the  farmer. 

The  coloring  of  this  bird  is  as  follows :  The  head  and 


158  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

throat,  together  with  the  upper  part  of  the  back  and  the 
wings,  are  deep  black,  with  the  exception  of  an  orange  bar 
upon  the  shoulders.  The  lower  part  of  the  back  and  the 
whole  of  the  under  surface  are  bright  orange,  warming 
into  scarlet  on  the  breast.  The  tail  is  rather  curiously 
colored.  The  female  is  dull  black  upon  the  upper  parts 
and  mottled  with  brownish  yellow,  each  feather  being 
marked  with  that  tint  upon  the  edges.  The  lower  part  of 
the  back  and  all  the  under  portions  of  the  body  are  dull 
orange,  and  the  tail  is  mostly  olive  yellow.  The  wings 
are  dull  brown,  and  marked  with  yellowish  white  upon 
the  coverts. 

From  these  colors  the  bird  has  derived  the  names  of 
Golden  Robin  and  Fire  Bird.  Its  total  length  is  about 
seven  inches. 

The  Commoh  StaRLtxg  is  well-known  both  for  its  beauty 
and  its  singular  method  of  flight.  When  a  flock  of  Star- 
lings begin  to  settle  for  the  night  they  wheel  round  the 
place  selected  with  great  accuracy.  Suddenly,  as  if  by 
word  of  command,  the  whole  flock  turn  their  sides  to  the 
spectator,  and,  with  a  great  whirring  of  wings,  the  whole 
front  and  shape  of  the  flo^k  is  altered.  No  body  of  sol- 
diers could  be  better  wheeled  or  countermarched  than  are 
these  flocks  of  Starlings. 

It  lives  principally  among  old  buildings,  and  is  very 
fond  of  gaining  admittance  into  dovecotes,  where  it  is  a 
harmless  visitor,  and  may  be  suffered  to  remain  without 
detriment  to  the  pigeons  or  their  eggs.  Its  nest  is  made 
usually  in  a  hole  in  a  wall,  sometimes  in  a  decayed  tree, 
and  contains  five  eggs  of  a  very  delicate,  uniformly  pale 
blue. 

There  is  never  any  difficulty  in  discovering  the  nest  of 
the  Starling,  for  if  it  builds  in  a  hole  of  a  wall  it  generally 
leaves  several  straws  sticking  out,  as  it  to  indicate  the 
locality ;  and  when  it  goes  to  take  food  to  its  young,  both 
parent  and  children  set  up  such  an  outcry  that  it  may  be 


1,  Hawfinch;   2,  Greenfinch;    3,  Linnet;   4,    Beamb* 

ling;  5,  Chaffinch.  (159) 


160  NATURAL  HISTORY 

heard  a  long  way  off.  Consequently,  there  are  few  eggs 
so  prevalent  in  the  string  of  the  country  boy  as  those  of 
the  Starling. 

We  now  arrive  at  the  very  large  and  interesting  family 
of  Finches.  None  of  the  species  are  large,  and  most  of 
them  are  excellent  songsters.  Their  beaks  are  conical, 
and  fitted  for  the  destruction  of  corn,  peas,  etc. 

The  Grosbeak,  or  Hawfinch,  well  deserves  its  generic 
name  of  "  Berry-breaker,"  for  its  beak  is  capable  of  break- 
ing the  hard  kernels  of  the  cherry,  and  even  those  of  the 
olive.  It  is  not  a  very  rare  bird,  although  it  is  but  seldom 
seen.  This  fact  is  accounted  for  by  its  great  shyness  and 
dread  of  mankind.  It  seldom  ventures  out  of  the  thick 
woods  in  which  it  delights  to  dwell. 

The  nest  of  this  bird  is  very  shallow,  and  slightly  put 
together, being  hardly  superior  to  that  of  the  Wood-pigeon, 
The  eggs  are  t'rom  four  to  six  in  number.  Its  length  is 
seven  inches. 

The  Chaffinch,  or  Piefinch,  as  it  is  often  called,  is 
chiefly  remarkable  for  the  beautiful  nest  which  it  con- 
structs. The  forks  of  a  thorn  or  wild  crab-tree  are  favor- 
ite places  for  the  nest,  which  is  composed  of  mosses,  hair, 
wool  and  feathers,  covered  on  the  exterior  with  lichen 
and  mosses,  so  exactly  resembling  the  bough  on  which  the 
nest  is  placed  that  the  eye  is  often  deceived  by  its  appear- 
ance.    In  the  nest  four  or  five  very  pretty  eggs  are  laid. 

The  name  Ccelebs,  or  Bachelor,  is  given  to  this  bird, 
because  the  females  quit  the  country  about  November, 
leaving  large  flocks  of  males  behind  them. 

The  Goldfinch,  or  Thistlefinch,  so  called  on  account 
of  its  fondness  for  the  down  of  the  thistle,  is  one  of  our 
most  beautiful  birds.  Where  thistles  abound,  small  flocks 
of  Goldfinches  may  be  seen  flying  from  hedge  to  hedge, 
and  occasionally  pecking  the  white  tops  of  the  thistles. 
The  tufted  seed  of  the  dandelion,  groundsel  and  other 
plants  is  also  eaten  by  the  Goldfinch. 


YELLOW-HAMMER.  161 

In  captivity  it  is  very  tame,  and  can  be  trained  to  per« 
form  a  multitude  of  tricks,  the  most  common  of  which 
are  drawing  its  own  food  and  water  with  a  chain  and 
bucket,  or  firing  a  gun  when  commanded.  The  nest  is 
very  beautiful,  being  mostly  made  of  wool  and  down 
from  various  plants,  and  is  usually  placed  on  the  extrem- 
ity of  a  spray.  The  eggs  are  small,  of  a  whitish  tint, 
spotted  with  orange  brown. 

The  Common  Linnet  frequents  commons  and  neglected 
pastures.  Its  song  is  very  sweet,  and  many  bird-fanciers 
suppose  that  the  mixed  breed  of  a  Canary  and  a  Linnet  has 
a  sweeter  song  than  either  bird. 

Its  nest  is  usually  built  in  the  centre  of  a  large  and  dense 
bush  ;  the  eggs  are  five  in  number. 

The  Canary.  This  pretty  little  songster  is  so  well 
known  as  to  need  but  little  description,  particularly  as 
there  are  no  opportunities  of  studying  its  natural  course 
of  life.  From  the  manner  in  which  the  Canary  is  usually 
reared  it  is  evident  that  the  bird  has  but  very  little  oppor- 
tunity of  exhibiting  its  natural  instincts. 

The  courageous,  impudent,  quarrelsome  Spaerow  i3 
known  to  all.  There  are  few  who  have  not  seen  this  little 
bird,  when  pressed  by  the  cold  in  the  winter,  come  to  the 
window,  expecting  his  donation  of  crumbs.  It  is  very 
fond  of  grain  of  various  kinds,  and  does  some  damage  to 
the  farmer,  but  the  destruction  of  caterpillars  by  the  bird 
more  than  compensates  for  the  loss  of  the  grain.  The 
little  impertinent  bird  has  no  scruple  in  perching  on  the 
pig's  trough  and  partaking  of  his  dinner,  or  in  mixing 
with  fowl  and  taking  its  share  of  their  provisions ;  and  on 
a  newly-thatched  house  it  absolutely  revels.  Dozens  of 
Sparrows  may  then  be  seen  pecking  and  pulling  at  the 
straws  in  high  enjoyment.  The  nest  of  the  House  Spar- 
row is  usually  built  in  holes  of  roofs.  The  eggs  are 
speckled  black  and  white  and  very  variable. 

The  Yellow- Hammer  or  Yellow  Bunting  is   a  very 


162  HATURAL  HlSTUM 

delicately-marked  little  bird,  very  common  in  hedges, 
where  it  flits  before  the  traveller,  always  keeping  about 
twenty  yards  in  front.  It  makes  its  nest  on  the  ground 
and  lays  five  eggs  curiously  scribbled  over  with  dark 
chocolate  lines,  as  if  a  child  had  been  trying  to  write 
Arabic  on  the  eggs. 

The  Larks  are  known  by  their  very  long  hind  toe.  The 
Skylark,  which  pours  forth  its  animated  song  while  sus- 
pended high  in  the  air,  is  an  inhabitant  of  most  parts  of 
Europe,  Asia  and  North  Africa,  but  is  not  found  in  America. 
A  story  is  told  of  a  Skylark  that  was  brought  to  America 
by  an  emigrant,  and  which  used  to  collect  crowds  of  de- 
lighted listeners  round  its  cage.  An  English  settler,  wdio 
happened  to  be  passing  by  while  the  bird  was  singing, 
was  so  affected  by  the  reminiscences  which  its  song  called 
up  that  he  offered  his  horse  and  cart  for  the  bird  on  the 
spot.  The  bird  afterwards  passed  into  other  hands,  but 
refused  to  sing  until  its  cage  was  hung  up  in  the  open  air. 

The  nest  is  made  on  the  ground,  frequently  in  the  print 
of  a  horse's  foot,  and  contains  five  eggs.  There  are  gene' 
rally  two  broods  in  the  year:  one  in  May  and  the  other  in 
July  or  August.  Immense  numbers  of  these  birds  are 
caught  annually  and  sent  to  the  London  markets.  The 
mode  of  catching  the  Larks  is  generally  by  means  of  a 
number  of  horsehair  nooses  attached  to  a  long  line.  Food 
is  scattered  among  the  nooses,  and  the  Larks  in  reaching 
the  food  get  their  limbs  entangled  in  the  horsehair,  and 
either  strangle  themselves  or  are  held  until  the  fowler 
comes  to  take  them  out. 

The  Bullfinch  affords  a  singular  instance  of  the  powTer 
of  art  on  the  song  of  birds.  The  natural  note  of  the  Bull- 
finch is  low,  and  can  only  be  heard  at  a  short  distance; 
but  when  well  trained  the  bird  whistles,  or  "pipes,"  as  it 
is  called,  any  melody  which  has  been  taught  it  in  a  fine 
flute-like  tone.  A  good  piping  Bullfinch  sells  at  a  very 
high  price.     The  method  of  teaching  is  to  confine  the 


164  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

birds  in  a  dark  room,  and,  before  their  food  is  given,  to 
play  the  air  that  they  have  to  learn  on  an  instrument 
called  a  bird-organ.  The  birds  soon  begin  to  imitate  the 
notes,  and  by  degrees  the  whole  tune  is  learned.  Some 
trainers  substitute  a  small  clarionet  for  the  bird-organ. 

When  in  captivity  the  Bullfinch  is  very  sociable,  and 
soon  learns  to  know  his  owners,  and  to  come  to  them  when 
called.  Its  nest  is  made  in  thick  bushes  or  fir-trees.  The 
eggs  are  of  a  pale  greenish- white,  spotted  with  orange 
brown.  The  name  of  Bullfinch  is  given  to  it  on  account 
of  the  large  proportionate  size  of  its  head  and  neck.  When 
in  captivity,  its  plumage  sometimes  turns  black,  the  result 
of  feeding  it  too  profusely  with  hemp-seed. 

The  Rhinoceros  Hornbill.  This  singular  and  almost 
startling  family  comprises  but  few  species,  which  are  all 
natives  of  India  and  Africa.  The  enormous  bill,  with  its 
incomprehensible  appendage,  although  of  course  heavy,  is 
really  much  lighter  than  it  looks,  being  composed  of  a 
kind  of  light  honey-combed  structure.  The  upper  pro- 
tuberance is  hollow,  and  it  is  supposed  to  serve  as  a  sound- 
ing-board to  increase  the  reverberations  of  the  air  while 
the  bird  is  uttering  its  peculiar  roaring  cry. 

In  spite  of  the  apparently  unwieldy  bill  the  bird  is  very 
active,  and  hops  about  the  branches  of  the  trees  with  much 
ease.  The  appendage  to  the  upper  mandible  is  small  when 
the  bird  is  young,  and  only  attains  its  enormous  size  when 
the  Hornbill  has  reached  its  full  growth.  The  bill  of  the 
Hoopoes  presents  a  somewhat  analogous  peculiarity,  as 
when  the  bird  is  young  the  bill  is  short  and  pointed,  and 
increases  with  the  size  of  the  bird.  From  this  circum- 
stance naturalists  imagine  that  there  is  an  affinity  between 
the  Hornbills  and  Hoopoes. 

The  Hornbills  seem  to  be  omnivorous,  fruits,  eggs,  birds, 
reptiles,  etc.,  forming  their  food.  The  African  Hornbills 
are  extremely  fond  of  nutmegs,  and  are,  on  that  account, 
said  to  be  peculiarly  delicate  eating. 


CLIMBING  BIRDS. 


i65 


The  Rhinoceros  Hornbill  is  a  native  of  India  and  the 
Indian  islands.  The  length  of  its  bill  is  usually  about 
ten  inches. 


The  Climbing  Birds  now  engage  our  attention.     Under 
this  order  are  placed  Toucans,  Parrots,  Woodpeckers?  and 


II — Kmty.ral  History 


166  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

Cuckoos.  The  feet  of  these  birds  have  two  toes  in  front 
and  two  behind. 

The  Toucans  are  natives  of  South  America.  Their 
enormous  bill  is  light,  being  chiefly  composed  of  a  honey- 
comb structure.  It  seems  to  be  very  sensitive  and  well- 
supplied  with  nerves,  as  the  bird  not  only  appears  to  enjoy 
nolding  meat  or  fruits  with  the  tip  of  its  bill,  but  has  been 
seen  to  scratch  that  organ  with  its  foot,  plainly  proving 
that  there  must  be  sensation.  It  seems  to  be  omnivorous, 
but  is  particularly  fond  of  mice  and  small  birds,  which  it 
kills  by  a  powerful  squeeze,  then  strips,  and  finally  pulls 
to  pieces  and  devours,  having  previously  reduced  them  to 
a  shapeless  mass  by  repeated  lateral  wrenches  with  its 
enormous  and  eaw-like  bill. 

When  sleeping  the  Toucan  takes  great  care  of  its  bill, 
packing  it  away  and  covering  it  carefully  with  the  feathers 
of  its  back,  and  altogether  presents  the  appearance  of  a 
large  round  ball  of  feathers.  The  body  is  about  eighteen 
inches  in  length.  These  birds,  together  with  the  Hoopoes 
and  Hornbills,  have  a  habit  of  throwing  their  food  down 
their  throats  with  a  peculiar  jerk  of  the  bill. 

In  the  Macaw  family  the  construction  of  the  bill  is  very 
remarkable.  As  the  curved  tip  of  the  bill  would  pre- 
vent the  bird  from  opening  it  wide  enough  to  admit  its 
food,  the  upper  mandible  is  united  to  the  skull  by  a  kind 
of  hinge-joint,  of  equal  strength  and  flexibility.  When 
climbing  among  the  branches  of  trees,  or  about  their  cages, 
the  Parrots  invariably  make  great  use  of  their  hooked 
bills  in  assisting  themselves  both  in  ascending  and  de- 
scending. The  Cross-Bills  have  been  observed  to  climb  in 
much  the  same  way. 

The  Parrots  are  said  to  be  very  long  lived;  some  have 
certainly  been  known  to  live  upwards  of  eighty  years  in 
captivity,  and  may  be  imagined  to  exceed  that  period  in 
a  wild  state.  The  Macaws  are  natives  of  South  America. 
The  blue  and   yellow  Macaw  inhabits  the  countries  of 


WUODPECKEK&,  167 

Brazil,  Guiana  and  Surinam,  living  principally  on  the 
banks  of  rivers. 

The  Ringed  Parrakeet  is  frequently  seen  domesticated, 
where  its  pleasing  manners  and  gentle  disposition  render 
it  a  favorite.  It  seems  to  be  fond  of  ripe  walnuts,  divided 
in  halves  ;  and  while  it  is  picking  out  the  kernel  continually 
utters  a  short  clucking  sound  indicative  of  pleasure. 

It  soon  learns  to  repeat  words  and  short  sentences,  and 
to  speak  with  tolerable  distinctness.  Sometimes,  when 
excited,  it  utters  most  ear-piercing  screams,  and  always 
appears  to  practice  any  new  accomplishment  when  it  thinks 
no  one  is  within  hearing. 

The  color  of  the  bird  is  green,  and  a  rose-colored  band 
round  its  neck  gives  it  the  name  of  the  Rose-ringed  Par- 
rakeet.    The  bill  is  red. 

The  Cockatoos  are  remarkable  for  the  powdery  surface 
of  their  wings,  and  the  crest  on  the  head,  which  can  be 
raised  or  depressed  at  pleasure.  The  Sulphur-crested 
Cockatoo  is  an  inhabitant  of  New  Guinea.  Its  color  is 
white,  and  the  crest  is  of  a  sulphur  yellow.  Its  white 
plumage  glancing  among  the  dense  dark  foliage  of  its  na- 
tive forests,  imparts  a  wonderful  beauty  to  the  scene.  This 
Cockatoo  is  easily  tamed,  and  is  of  a  very  affectionate  dis- 
position. When  in  captivity  it  has  been  known  to  live  to 
the  age  of  120  years.  Its  nest  is  built  in  hollow  trees  and 
the  crevices  of  rocks.  The  eggs  are  white.  Its  length  is 
about  eighteen  inches. 

The  Woodpeckers,  whose  name  indicates  their  habits, 
are  widely  spread,  being  found  in  all  quarters  of  the  globe, 
except  Australia.  They  subsist  on  insects  and  grubs,  which 
they  dig  out  of  trees  or  discover  under  the  bark.  For  this 
purpose  their  whole  structure  is  admirably  adapted.  The 
bill  is  long,  sharp  and  powerful,  and  the  formation  of  the 
feet  and  legs  is  such  that  the  bird  can  grasp  the  tree  firmly 
with  the  feet,  while  swinging  with  the  force  of  his  whole 
body  against  it.      Another    most    singular   point  in  the 


168  NATUEAL  HISTORS* 

Woodpeckers  is  the  method  by  which  they  are  enabled  ta 
thrust  the  tongue  deep  into  the  crevices  and  bring  out  any 
insects  that  may  happen  to  be  there.  The  tongue  is  con- 
nected with  two  elastic  ligaments,  which  are  inserted  near 
the  juncture  of  the  upper  mandible  with  the  skull.  From 
thence  they  sweep  round  the  back  of  the  head,  and  passing 
under  the  lower  mandible,  enable  the  tongue  to  be  thrust 
out  a  considerable  distance.  The  tip  of  the  tongue  is  sharp, 
and  barbed  with  several  filaments,  and  more  firmly  to  se- 
cure the  prey,  a  kind  of  gummy  secretion  causes  those  in- 
sects to  adhere  that  would  be  too  small  to  be  impaled. 

It  appears  to  be  an  erroneous  opinion  that  these  birds 
injure  trees.  Their  only  object  in  pecking  away  the  wood 
and  bark  is  to  get  at  the  insects,  which  they  know  are  hid- 
den within.  Now,  insects  seldom  or  never  bore  into  healthy 
wood,  but  a  decayed  branch  or  stump  is  always  full  of 
them;  so  the  winged  entomologist,  when  he  perceives  a 
decayed  branch,  or  finds  an  unsound  spot  in  the  trunk, 
immediately  sets  to  work  industriously,  and  is  rewarded 
by  finding  plenty  of  insects,  which  he  draws  out  and  de- 
molishes. 

Although  the  Woodpecker  does  not  scoop  away  sound 
trees,  yet  it  is  because  it  has  no  motive  for  doing  so — not 
that  the  power  is  wanting.  Wilson  had  an  Ivory-billed 
Woodpecker  in  his  possession,  which  pecked  away  lath 
and  plaster  in  its  efforts  to  escape,  and  utterly  ruined  a 
mahogany  table  to  which  it  was  fastened. 

The  Green  Woodpecker  is  by  far  the  most  common, 
and  may  be  often  seen  in  woods,  tapping  the  trees  with 
wonderful  rapidity.  It  generally  runs  up  the  trunk  of  the 
tree  in  a  spiral  direction,  occasionally  striking  off  large 
pieces  of  dry  bark.  When  it  descends,  it  still  keeps  its 
head  uppermost. 

I  have  often  seen  the  Green  Woodpecker  busily  employed 
among  the  trees.  I  have  never  seen  it  on  the  ground,  and 
once  only  on  the  smaller  branches  of  the  trees. 


17U  NATURAL  HISTORY, 

The  Wryneck  is  tolerably  common  in  the  southern 
counties  of  England,  but  is  scarcely  ever  seen  in  the  north 
and  west.  It  principally  feeds  on  ants,  which  it  picks  up 
with  great  rapidity  by  means  of  its  long  tongue,  covered 
with  a  glutinous  secretion  like  that  of  the  Woodpecker. 
The  rapidity  with  which  the  ants  are  taken  is  so  great  that 
"  an  ant's  egg,  which  is  of  a  light  color  and  more  conspicu' 
ous  than  the  tongue,  has  somewhat  the  appearance  of  mov- 
ing to  the  mouth  by  attraction,  as  a  needle  does  to  the 
magnet."  The  term  Wryneck  is  given  it  from  its  habit  of 
rapidly  twisting  its  head  and  neck,  and  hissing  like  a  ser- 
pent, if  disturbed  upon  its  eggs.  The  young  also  hiss  if 
they  are  molested.  Its  eggs  are  laid  on  the  bare  wood  in 
the  holes  of  trees.  Like  most  eggs  that  are  laid  in  holes ; 
they  are  of  a  pure  white.  The  length  of  the  bird  is  7 
inches. 

The  Cuckoo,  spring's  harbinger,  has,  in  all  ages,  obtained 
for  itself  a  name  at-once  pleasing  and  disreputable ;  pleas- 
ing, because  its  well-known  notes  are  a  sign  that  the  cold 
winter  is  gone,  and  disreputable,  because  it  usurps  the 
nests  of  other  birds,  of  which  the  Hedge  Sparrow  is  the 
usual  victim.  In  its  nest  the  Cuckoo  deposits  one  of  its 
own  eggs,  which  are  remarkably  small  in  proportion  to 
the  size  of  the  bird.  The  unsuspecting  Hedge  Sparrow 
hatches  the  intruder  together  with  her  own  young.  The 
Cuckoo  rapidly  increases  in  size,  and  monopolizes  no  small 
portion  of  the  entire  nest,  besides  taking  the  lion's  share 
of  the  provisions.  The  mother,  however,  never  seems  to 
see  the  difference,  but  feeds  and  tends  the  interloper  with 
quite  as  much  care  as  her  own  young. 

The  young  Cuckoo  ejects  the  rightful  occupants  of  the 
nest,  by  managing  to  get  the  egg  or  young  bird  upon  its 
back,  clambering  up  to  the  edge  of  the  nest,  and  then 
throwing  it  over  by  a  sharp  jerk. 

At  some  times  of  the  year,  Cuckoos  are  comparatively 
tame.     I  have  repeatedly  decoyed  them  by  imitating  their 


rovTEh  171 

cry,  until  they  came  near  enough  for  me  to  see  the  move- 
ments of  the  beak. 

The  Cuckoo  feeds  principally  upon  the  hairy  caterpil- 
lars, especially  those  of  the  tiger-moth,  the  hairs  of  which 
form  a  kind  of  lining  to  its  stomach.  These  hairs  are 
placed  so  regularly  that  it  was  imagined  for  sometime  that 
they  were  a  growth  from  the  stomach  itself.  To  settle  the 
point,  the  microscope  was  brought  to  bear  on  the  subject, 
and  by  its  aid,  the  hairs  were  found  to  be  exclusively  those 
of  the  caterpillar. 

The  Cuckoo  will  also  feed  on  other  insects.  Gilbert 
White  saw  several  Cuckoos  engaged  in  feeding  by  a  large 
pond.  They  were  employed  in  catching  the  dragon-flies, 
some  of  which  they  took  while  resting  on  the  water  plants, 
and  others  they  caught  on  the  wing. 

The  Dove  family  is  supposed  to  be  more  widely  dis- 
tributed than  any  other.  The  Ringdove  is  the  largest  of 
the  Pigeons.  A  black  ringlet  round  the  neck,  edged  with 
white,  gives  it  the  name  of  Ringdove.  It  is  very  common, 
.md  its  nests  are  usually  found  to  consist  of  a  few  sticks, 
thrown  loosely  together  on  a  spray  of  fir  or  holly.  The 
structure  of  this  platform,  for  nest  it  can  hardly  be  called, 
is  so  loose,  that  the  white  eggs  can  generally  be  seen  from 
below  through  the  interstices  of  the  nest. 

The  following  group  comprises  the  most  conspicuous 
varieties  of  the  Domestic  Pigeon.  All  these  birds,  except 
the  Carrier,  the  Pouter  and  Tumbler,  are  very  similar  in 
their  habits  and  need  no  description. 

The  Tumbler  is  a  very  little  pigeon,  and  derives  its  name 
from  its  singular  habit  of  falling  backwards  when  on  the 
wing.  Pigeon  fanciers  assert  that  a  flight  of  twelve  Tum- 
blers may  be  covered  with  a  handkerchief. 

The  Pouter  is  a  large  pigeon.  It  stands  particularly 
erect,  and  seems  exceedinglv  vain  of  the  swollen  crop 
which  gives  it  the  name  of  Pouter.  The  bird  is  enabled 
to  inflate  its  crop  with  air,  until  the  head  is  almost  hidden 


172  NATURAL  HISTORY, 

behind  it.  This  inflation  sometimes  causes  the  bird  to 
iose  its  balance  and  fall  down  chimneys,  on  which  it  ia 
fond  of  standing. 

The  Carrier  Pigeon  is  the  bird  that  was  employed  to 
take  messages  before  the  invention  of  the  telegraph  ren- 
dered even  the  speed  of  the  wind  too  slow  for  the  present 
day.  The  most  valuable  Carriers  were  trained  to  carry  to 
and  from  their  residence.  A  letter  was  written  on  a  so  .all 
piece  of  paper,  and  fastened  under  the  wing  of  the  Pigeon, 
or  to  its  feet.  The  feet  were  then  bathed  in  vinegsr  to 
keep  them  cool,  lest  the  bird  should  stop  on  the  wny  to 
bathe.  When  the  Pigeon  was  set  free,  it  rose  high  H  the 
air,  made  one  or  two  circular  flights,  and  then  darted  off 
like  an  arrow  in  the  proper  direction.  One  of  these  birds 
has  been  known  to  fly  nearly  150  miles  in  one  hour 

The  Peacock.  This  magnificent  bird  has  been  domes- 
ticated in  several  countries.  Some  suppose  that  it  was 
first  brought  from  India  by  Alexander,  and  by  him  intro- 
duced into  Europe.  The  gorgeous  plumes  that  adorn  the 
Peacock  do  not  compose  the  tail,  as  many  suppose,  but 
are  only  the  tail  coverts.  The  tail  feathers  themselves  are 
short  and  rigid,  and  serve  to  keep  the  train  spread,  as  may 
be  seen  when  the  bird  walks  about  in  all  the  majesty  of 
his  plumage. 

Although  Pea-fowl  seek  their  food  on  the  ground,  they 
invariably  roost  on  some  elevated  situation,  such  as  a 
high  branch,  or  the  roof  of  a  barn  or  haystack.  When  the 
bird  is  perched  on  the  roof,  its  train  lies  along  the  thatch, 
and  is  quite  invisible  in  the  dark. 

In  the  times  of  chivalry,  a  roasted  Peacock,  clothed  in 
its  plumage,  and  with  its  train  displayed,  formed  one  of 
the  chief  ornaments  of  the  regal  board.  The  nest  of  this 
bird  is  made  of  sticks  and  leaves  rudely  thrown  together, 
and  contains  from  twelve  to  fifteen  eggs.  The  young  do 
not  attain  their  full  plumage  until  the  third  year,  and  only 
the  males  possess  the  vivid  tints  and  lengthened  train,  the 


Peacock. 


(173) 


174  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

female  being  a  comparatively  ordinary  bird.  A  white 
variety  of  the  Peacock  is  not  uncommon.  In  this  case, 
the  eyes  of  the  train  feathers  are  slightly  marked  with  a 
kind  of  neutral  tint.  The  voice  of  the  Peacock  is  as  un- 
pleasant and  unmusical  as  its  external  appearance  is  at- 
tractive. 

The  Common  Pheasant  was  originally  brought  from 
Georgia.  It  is  a  hardy  bird,  and  bears  the  cold  months 
very  well.  Although  it  can  be  tamed,  and  will  come  to 
be  fed  with  the  poultry,  yet  an  innate  timidity  prevents 
it  from  being  thoroughly  domesticated.  Young  Pheasants 
that  have  been  hatched  under  a  hen,  scamper  off  in  terror 
if  an  unexpected  intruder  makes  his  appearance  among 
them,  although  the  remainder  of  the  poultry  remain  per- 
fectly unconcerned. 

This  bird  loves  to  perch  at  night  on  trees,  especially  on 
the  spreading  branches  of  the  larch. 

A  white  variety  of  the  Pheasant  sometimes  occurs,  but 
seems  never  to  be  propagated.  The  nest  of  the  bird  is 
made  on  the  ground,  and  contains  about  fifteen  eggs. 

The  Domestic  Fowls  are  too  well  known  to  need  much 
description.  There  are  many  varieties,  the  most  conspic- 
uous of  which  are  the  Cochin-China,  Crested  and  Bantam. 
The  Game  Fowl  was  formerly  in  great  request  for  the  cruel 
sport  of  cock-fighting.  The  Java  Fowl,  of  which  the 
enormous  Cochin-China  bird  is  a  variety,  is  supposed  to 
be  the  origin  of  the  barn-door  fowl.  The  cock  has  been 
long  celebrated  for  his  warlike  propensities,  and  his  habit 
of  greeting  the  approach  of  morn  by  his  "  shrill  clarion." 

The  Bantam  is  a  very  little  bird,  indeed,  but  exceedingly 
courageous,  and  does  not  hesitate  to  attack  a  Turkey  or 
such  large  bird  with  most  amusing  pompousness  of  man- 
ner. Some  Bantams  have  their  legs  thickly  feathered 
down  to  the  very  toes.  The  hackles,  or  Ions:  neck-feathers 
of  this  and  the  preceding  bird,  are  much  used  by  anglers 
far  iDQakiner  artificial  flies 


Aegus  Pheasant  Displaying. 


■:  Mh  > 


176  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

The  celebrated  Jungle  Fowl  of  India  belongs  to  this  race, 
and  is  by  many  supposed  to  be  the  origin  of  our  domestic 
game  fowl.  The  Chinese,  who  are  greatly  addicted  to  the 
sport  of  cock-fighting,  prefer  this  bird  for  their  cruel 
amusement. 

The  Dorking  Fowl  is  a  large  and  delicate  species.  The 
chief  peculiarity  in  this  bird  is  the  double  hind  toe,  so 
that  it  has  five  toes  instead  of  four. 

The  Turkey  is  an  inhabitant  of  America,  and  appears 
to  have  been  imported  into  Europe  about  the  year  1600. 
Its  habits,  when  wild  in  its  native  woods,  are  rather  inter- 
esting. It  is  partly  migratory  in  its  habits,  moving  from 
the  parts  about  Ohio,  Kentucky  and  Indiana  towards  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi.  The  march  is  usually  performed 
on  foot  in  large  flocks,  the  birds  seldom  using  their  wings 
except  when  attacked,  or  in  order  to  cross  a  river.  The 
powerful  birds  can  easily  cross  a  river  of  a  mile  in  breadth, 
but  the  weaker  frequently  fall  into  the  water,  and  then 
paddle  to  shore  with  some  rapidity.  This  migration  is 
performed  about  the  end  of  October. 

The  Partridge  is  known  as  one  of  the  birds  included 
in  the  designation  of  "  game."  It  lays  about  twenty  eggs 
in  a  rude  nest  placed  on  the  ground,  a  ad  displays  great 
attachment  to  them,  and  no  small  ingenuity  in  decoying 
an  intruder  away.  It  is  said  that  a  gentleman  who  was 
overlooking  his  plowman  saw  a  Partridge  run  from  her 
nest,  almost  crushed  by  the  horses'  hoofs.  Being  certain 
that  the  next  furrow  must  bury  the  eggs  and  nest,  he 
watched  for  the  return  of  the  plow,  when  to  his  great  as- 
tonishment the  nest,  previously  containing  twenty-five 
eggs,  was  vacant.  After  a  search,  he  found  the  bird  sitting 
upon  the  eggs  under  a  hedge,  nearly  forty  yards  from  the 
nest,  to  which  place  she  and  her  mate  had  removed  the 
whole  number  in  less  than  twenty  minutes.  In  some 
parts  of  the  country  the  Partridge  is  very  plentiful — one 
sportsman  having  shot  in  two  days  168  brace- 


BLACK  GBOUSE,  177 

The  length  of  the  bird  is  about  twelve  inches  ;  the  wing 
is  short  and  rounded,  causing  the  peculiar  whirring  sound 
when  in  motion. 

The  Quail  (Bob  White)  is  a  quite  common  little  bird. 
Countless  flocks  of  them  are  spread  over  the  Southern  and 
Middle  States,  and  many  are  taken  and  sent  to  the  New 
York  markets. 

Temmick  states  that  hundreds  of  thousands  arrive  in 
Naples  and  Providence,  and  are  so  fatigued  that  for  seve- 
ral days  they  suffer  themselves  to  be  taken  by  hand.  We 
are  here  reminded  of  the  flight  of  Quails  with  which  the 
Israelites  were  fed,  the  sacred  narrative  even  preserving 
the  nocturnal  flight  of  these  birds.  "And  it  came  to  pass, 
that  at  even  the  Quails  came  up  and  covered  the  camp." 
Probably  the  instinct  to  fly  by  night  is  implanted  in  them 
for  the  purpose  of  avoiding  the  birds  of  prey  that  would 
attack  them  by  day.  The  female  lays  from  seven  to 
twelve  eggs  in  a  rude  nest  on  the  ground. 

The  length  of  the  bird  is  seven  inches. 

The  Black  Grouse  is  still  found  on  the  moors  of  Scot- 
land and  some  parts  of  England,  and,  together  with  the 
red  grouse,  tempts  sportsmen  to  spend  their  leisure  months 
on  the  moors. 

The  legs  and  feet  of  the  Ptarmigans  are  thickly  covered 
with  hair-like  feathers,  reaching  as  far  as  the  claws.  Their 
plumage  bears  a  singular  analogy  to  the  fur  of  the  ermine 
and  some  other  quadrupeds,  as  it  changes  in  winter  from 
a  rich  tortoise-shell  color  to  a  pure  white.  It  inhabits  the 
northern  parts  of  Europe  and  America,  and  is  also  found 
in  the  north  of  Scotland,  principally  among  the  moun- 
tains. The  color  of  the  bird  is  so  similar  to  that  of  the 
mossy  and  lichen-covered  rocks  among  which  it  dwells 
that  a  whole  covey  easily  eludes  an  unpracticed  eye. 

Great  numbers  of  them  are  annually  imported  from  the 
north  of  Europe,  especially  from  Norway  and  Sweden,  to 
the  London  market.    One  poulterer  has  purchased  15,000 


17&  JSATURAL  HISTORY. 

of  these  birds,  and  24,000  have  been  exported  in  one  ship 
from  one  place. 

Like  that  of  the  Grouse,  the  Ptarmigan's  nest  is  a  loosely- 
constructed  heap  of  twigs  and  grass,  and  contains  usually 
twelve  eggs. 

The  Mound-making  Megapode  inhabits  the  dense 
thickets  bordering  on  the  sea-shore,  and  is  never  found 
far  inland.  Like  the  Brush  Turkey,  it  deposits  many  eggs 
in  one  mound,  but  instead  of  placing  them  at  intervals  in 
the  mound,  the  bird  makes  deep  holes,  from  five  to  six 
feet,  at  the  bottom  of  which  the  eggs  are  deposited.  The 
natives  obtain  the  eggs  by  scratching  up  the  earth  with 
their  fingers  until  they  have  traced  the  hole  to  the  bot- 
tom; a  very  laborious  task,  as  the  holes  seldom  run 
straight,  and  often  turn  off  at  right-angles  to  avoid  stone 
or  root.  The  mounds  are  enormously  large.  Mr.  Gilbert 
was  told  by  the  residents  that  they  were  the  tombs  of  the 
aborigines,  nor  was  it  until  after  some  time  that  their  real 
nature  was  made  known.  The  height  of  one  mound  was 
fifteen  feet,  and  its  greatest  circumference  at  the  base  sixty 
feet. 

The  Ostrich  is  the  largest  bird  as  yet  known  to  exist, 
its  height  being  from  six  to  eight  feet.  It  is  an  inhabitant 
of  Africa,  and  from  thence  the  elegant  plumes  are  brought. 
These  plumes  are  mostly  obtained  from  the  wings  of  the 
bird,  and  not  from  the  tail,  as  is  generally  imagined. 

An  immense  number  of  eggs  are  laid  by  the  Ostriches 
in  one  spot,  several  birds  belonging  to  each  nest.  The 
eggs  are  very  large  and  strong,  and  are  in  general  use  by 
the  Bosjesmans  for  holding  wTater.  By  means  of  these 
eggs,  which  they  bury  at  intervals  in  the  sand,  after  filling 
them  with  water,  they  are  enabled  to  make  inroads  across 
the  desert  and  retreat  with  security,  as  none  can  follow 
them  for  want  of  water.  Each  egg  holds  rather  more  than 
five  pints.  An  excellent  omelet  is  made  by  the  natives  by 
buying  the  fresh  eg.^  in  hot  ashes,  and  stirring  round  the 


^ji^^^V^v^.^^^.^       ^ 


$\7 


Sslf/Sli 


m^9^MMM 


-         -  .^2*;®, 


OsTRICHo 


(170) 


180  NATURAL  HISTORY 

contents  with  a  stick  through  a  hole  in  the  upper  end 
until  thoroughly  cooked. 

The  principal  strength  of  the  Ostrich  trihe  lies  in  the 
legs.  These  limbs  are  so  powerful  that  a  swift  horse  has 
great  difficulty  in  overtaking  the  bird.  As  the  Ostrich 
mostly  runs  ir?  large  curves,  the  hunters  cut  across  and 
intercept  the  bird,  which  would  in  all  probability  escape 
if  followed  in  its  exact  course. 

The  Ostrich  is  easily  tamed.  They  frequently  astonish 
the  visitor  at  the  zoological  gardens  by  suddenly  snatch- 
ing out  of  his  hand  a  bun  or  a  cake,  their  long  necks  en- 
abling them  to  reach  a  surprising  distance.  Many  have 
doubtless  seen  the  tame  Ostriches  at  the  Hippodrome, 
who  ran  races  bearing  riders  on  their  backs,  and  seeming 
to  enjoy  the  sport  as  much  as  any  of  the  spectators. 

The  food  of  the  Ostrich  is  vegetable,  and  it  swallows 
many  stones,  etc.,  to  assist  it  in  grinding  its  food.  When 
in  confinement  it  picks  up  anything — glass,  nails,  etc. — 
from  the  effects  of  which  it  sometimes  dies.  I  have  as- 
sisted at  the  dissection  of  an  Ostrich,  and  have  seen  an 
astonishing  amount  of  pebbles  and  other  hard  materials 
taken  from  its  stomach,  among  which  were  a  tolerably 
large  piece  of  deal,  and  a  portion  of  a  brickbat. 

The  Rhea,  or  American  Ostrich,  is  abundant  on  the 
banks  of  the  river  La  Plata,  and  is  chased  by  the  Gauchos, 
who  pursue  it  on  horseback,  and  kill  it  by  throwing  the 
celebrated  "  bolos."  These  curious  weapons  are  made  of 
a  long  leathern  thong,  having  a  heavy  stone  or  leaden  bail 
attached  to  each  end.  The  Gaucho  can  throw  it  so  as 
either  to  stun  his  pre)''  with  a  blow  from  the  ball,  or 
strangle  it  by  causing  the  thong  to  twist  round  its  neck. 

It  is  known  that  the  Rhea  can  swim  well,  and  it  has  been 
seen  to  cross  rivers  several  hundred  feet  in  width,  a  power 
which  the  Ostrich  and  the  Cassowary  are  not  ascertained 
to  possess.  There  are  two  species  of  this  bird — one.  the 
Darwin's  Rhea,  has  been  but  latelv  introduced  to  science. 


EMEU.  181 

» 

The  Cassowary  is  a  native  of  the  eastern  parts  of  Asia. 
Like  the  Ostrich,  it  cannot  fly,  but  runs  with  great  swift- 
ness, and  if  attacked  by  dogs  kicks  with  extreme  force  and 
rapidity.  The  feathers  of  this  bird  are  remarkable  for 
being  composed  of  two  long,  thread-like  feathers  sprout- 
ing from  the  same  root.  The  wing  feathers  are  round, 
black  and  strong,  and  resemble  the  quills  of  the  Porcupine. 
At  the  end  of  the  last  joint  of  the  wing  is  a  sort  of  claw  or 
spur.  The  crest  upon  its  head  is  composed  of  a  cellular 
bony  substance. 

The  food  of  the  bird  consists  of  vegetable  substances, 
and  it  will  frequently  swallow  a  tolerably  large  apple  en- 
tire, trusting  to  the  pebbles,  etc.,  in  its  stomach  to  bruise  it. 

The  Emeu  is  a  native  of  New  Holland,  and  nearly  equals 
the  Ostrich  in  bulk,  its  height  being  between  five  and  six 
feet.  Its  feathers  lie  loosely  on  the  body,  and  its  wings 
are  small  and  hardly  to  be  distinguished.  The  skin  of  the 
Emeu  furnishes  a  bright  and  clear  oil,  on  which  account 
it  is  eagerly  sought  after. 

In  its  manners  the  Emeu  bears  a  close  resemblance  to 

the  Ostrich Its  food  appears  to  be^ wholly  vegetable, 

consisting  chiefly  of  fruits,  roots  and  herbage,  and  it  is 
consequently,  notwithstanding  its  great  strength,  perfectly 
inoffensive.  The  length  of  its  legs  and  the  muscularity  of 
its  thighs  enable  it  to  run  with  great  swiftness ;  and  as  it 
is  exceedingly  shy,  it  is  not  easily  overtaken  or  brought 
within  gun-shot.  Dogs  will  seldom  attack  it,  both  on  ac- 
count of  some  peculiar  odor  in  its  flesh  which  they  dislike, 
and  because  the  injuries  inflicted  upon  them  by  striking 
out  with  its  feet  are  frequently  very  severe. 

Its  flesh  has  been  compared  to  coarse  beef,  which  it  re- 
sembles both  in  appearance  and  taste.  The  hind-quarters 
are  the  only  part  fit  for  culinary  use. 

The  voice  of  the  Emeu  is  a  kind  of  low  booming  sound. 
The  eggs  are  six  or  seven  in  number,  of  a  dark  green  color, 
and  are  much  esteemed  by  the  natives  as  food.     When  the 

12— Natural  History 


182  NATURAL  HISTORY, 

natives  take  an  Emeu  they  break  its  wings,  a  curious  cus- 
tom of  no  perceptible  utility. 

The  Apteryx.  This  extraordinary  bird,  whose  name  is 
derived  from  the  apparent  absence  of  wings,  those  mem- 
bers being  merely  rudimentary,  inhabits  the  islands  of 
New  Zealand.  It  conceals  itself  among  the  densest  fern, 
and  when  hunted  by  dogs  it  hastens  to  seek  a  refuge 
among  rocks  and  in  the  chambers  which  it  excavates  in 
the  earth.  In  these  chambers  its  nest  is  made  and  the 
eggs  laid.  The  natives  hunt  it  with  great  eagerness,  as  the 
skins  are  used  for  the  dresses  of  chiefs,  who  are  so  tena- 
cious of  them  that  they  can  hardly  be  persuaded  to  part 
with  a  single  skin.  The  feathers  are  employed  to  make 
artificial  flies.  When  attacked  it  defends  itself  by  rapid 
and  vigorous  strokes  with  its  powerful  feet. 

For  many  years  naturalists  considered  it  an  extinct 
species.  The  question  has  been  set  at  rest  by  the  arrival 
in  London  of  several  skins  and  one  living  specimen,  now 
in  the  Zoological  Gardens.  This  bird  has  a  singular  habit 
of  resting  with  the  top  of  its  bill  placed  on  the  ground. 
The  nostils  of  the  Apteryx  are  placed  almost  at  the  very 
extremity  of  the  bill.  The  aborigines  of  New  Zealand 
give  it  the  name  of  Kiwi  Kiwi.  The  food  of  the  bird 
consists  of  snails,  insects  and  worms,  which  latter  creatures 
it  obtains  by  striking  the  ground  with  its  feet,  and  seizing 
them  on  their  appearance  at  the  surface. 

The  Dodo.  This  singular  bird,  which  is  supposed  tc  be 
extinct,  was  discovered  in, the  Mauritius  by  the  earlier  voy- 
agers. For  many  years  their  accounts  of  the  Dodars  were 
supposed  to  be  mere  flights  of  fancy.  Lately,  however, 
the  discovery  of  several  relics  of  this  bird  in  various  coun- 
tries has  set  the  question  of  its  existence  at  rest,  but  not 
the  question  of  the  proper  position  of  the  bird.  Some 
think  it  belongs  to  the  Pigeons  and  some  to  the  Ostriches. 

It  is  still  within  the  range  of  possibility  tint  this  bird 
may  again  be  discovered,  as  at  present  but  little  of  Mada- 


GEE  AT  BUSTARD. 


183 


gascar  has  been  searched,  and  in  that  island,  if  anywhere,, 
it  will  be  found. 

Tbe  Great  Bustard  is  now  scarcely  ever  seen  in  Eng- 
land, although  formerly  it  was  tolerably  common.  It 
runs  with  great  swiftness,  and  will  never  rise  on  the  wing 
until  forced,  so  that  instances  have  been  known  of  Bus- 


The  Dodo. 


tards  being  captured  by  greyhounds.  It  is  exceedingly 
wary,  and  can  hardly  be  approached  within  gun-shot,  ex- 
cept by  adopting  some  disguise,  as  a  laborer  with  the  gun 
in  his  wheelbarrow,  or  by  driving  a  cart  or  a  carriage  by 
the  spot  where  it  is  feeding. 

The  male  Bustard  possesses  a  membranous  pouch  on 
the  fore  part  of  the  neck  capable  of  holding  six  pints  of 
water.  There  is  an  opening  to  this  pouch  under  the 
tongue,  and  its  use  is  possibly,  like  that  of  the  pelican,  to 


184  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

carry  water  for  the  use  of  the  young ;  but  this  is  not  ascer- 
tained. Its  length  is  more  than  three  feet.  Its  nest  is  a 
loose  heap  of  straw  on  the  ground,  and  contains  two  pale- 
brown  eggs,  rather  larger  than  those  of  the  turkey. 

The  Plovers  are  known  by  their  long  legs,  short  toes 
and  long,  powerful  wings.  Many  are  inhabitants  ot 
America,  of  which  the  Upland  or  Field  and  Golden 
Plover  are  the  most  common. 

The  Golden  Plover  is  very  common  in  most  parts  of  the 
United  States,  and  is  well  known  from  its  plaintive  cry 
and  the  stratagems  it  employs  to  decoy  intruders  away 
from  its  nest,  or  rather  eggs,  for  nest  it  has  none.  Fre- 
quently, however,  the  attempts  of  the  bird  only  draw  the 
attention  of  the  passer-by  to  the  evident  vicinity  of  the 
eggs.  These  eggs  are  dark  brown,  blotched  with  black, 
and  are  hardly  to  be  distinguished  from  the  soil  where 
they  are  laid.  If  an  intruder  approach  them  the  bird 
glides  before  him,  and  flutters  along,  drooping  her  wings, 
as  if  wounded,  invariabty  endeavoring  to  lead  him  away 
from  her  nest.  When  it  has  succeeded  in  decoying  away 
the  intruder  it  suddenly  mounts  in  the  air,  uttering  its  cry 
of  pee-weet,  leaving  the  pursuer  to  gaze  with  astonishment 
at  the  escaping  bird.  The  eggs  are  sold  under  the  title  of 
"  plovers'  eggs,"  and  are  considered  great  delicacies.  When 
flying,  the  black  and  white  plumage  makes  it  very  con- 
spicuous.    On  the  head  of  the  bird  is  a  kind  of  a  crest. 

The  Common  Crane  is  now  but  rarely  seen,  although 
it  formerly  was  common.  It  flies  at  so  arreat  a  height 
that  although  its  hoarse  cry  is  audible,  the  bird  itself  is  far 
out  of  reach  of  sight.  It  generally  feeds  on  snails,  frogs 
and  worms,  but  is  not  by  any  means  averse  to  newly-sown 
grain.  The  nest  is  made  among  reeds  and  rushes,  and 
contains  two  eggs.     It  is  nearly  four  feet  in  length. 

The  Heron  is  a  bird  renowned  in  the  noble  science  of 
falconry. 

It  generally  breeds  in  company,  like  the  Rooks ;  indeed. 


HERON. 


185 


these  two  birds  frequently  inhabit  contiguous  trees,  but 
never   interfere  with    each   other.      In   the   dawn  of  the 


Heron  (in  Breeding  Plumage). 

early  morning,  or  while  the  moon  casts  an  uncertain  light, 
the  Heron  may  be  seen  standing  in  the  shallow  water, 


jgfi  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

stiff  and  motionless,  and  by  the  faint  light  may  be  mis- 
taken for  a  stump  of  a  tree.  But  his  eye  is  keenly  di- 
rected on  the  water,  and  no  sooner  does  a  fish  approach 
than  a  dart  of  his  unerring  bill  secures  it,  and  the  Heron 
soars  exultingly  to  his  nest,  bearing  his  prey  with  him. 
The  fixed  patience  that  the  Heron  displays  has  caused 
it  to  be  chosen  as  the  emblem  of  solitude. 

The  plumes  of  the  Heron  were  formerly  considered  as 
ornaments,  only  to  be  worn  by  the  noble. 

It  has  been  lately  ascertained  that  the  Heron  can  swim 
in  deep  water,  and  does  so  when  it  sees  any  prey  that  can- 
not be  reached  by  wading,  such  as  a  nice  nestful  of  young 
moor-hens,  or  a  water-rat  engaged  at  his  dinner. 

The  nest  of  the  Heron  is  a  flat  mass  of  sticks,  laid  on  the 
highest  branches  of  a  tree,  and  contains  five  eggs.  The 
length  of  the  bird  is  about  three  feet.  An  old  name  of  this 
bird  was  the  Heme,  or  Hernshaw,  from  which  was  derived 
the  saying,  "  He  does  not  know  a  Hawk  from  a  Hern- 
shaw." The  last  word  has  been  corrupted  into  "hand- 
saw," which  renders  the  proverb  unmeaning. 

The  beautiful  Bittern  has  been  almost  banished  from 
England,  although  it  was  formerly  a  common  bird.  It 
frequents  morasses  and  dense  beds  of  reeds,  where  it  lies 
concealed  until  evening,  when  it  leaves  its  rushy  bed  and 
soars  to  a  vast  height,  continually  uttering  its  sepulchral 
booming  cry-  This  singular  sound  is  not  unlike  the  bel- 
lowing of  a  bull,  and  is  most  startling  in  its  effect. 

In  olden  times  the  Bittern  was  one  of  the  birds  chiefly 
sought  after  in  falconry,  as  the  stout  defence  it  makes 
against  its  enemies,  by  darting  its  sharp  and  powerful 
beak  at  them,  and  beating  violently  with  its  feet,  renders 
it  by  no  means  an  easy  prey.  For  this  reason,  the  fal- 
coner's first  care  on  reaching  the  Bittern,  when  brought  to 
the  ground  by  his  falcon,  was  to  secure  its  head,  and  by 
fixing  its  bill  deep  in  the  earth,  to  save  his  eyes  from  the 
rapid  and  well-aimed  blows  of  the  wounded  bird.     The 


188  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

Falcon  also  was  in  danger  of  being  transfixed  by  the  sharp 
beak  of  his  victim. 

The  plumage  of  this  beautiful  bird  is  a  rich  reddish 
yellow-ground,  •  boldly  variegated  with  various  black 
marks,  which  are  most  conspicuous  in  the  loose,  long 
feathers  that  decorate  its  neck.  In  size  it  is  a  little  less 
than  the  Heron.  It  feeds  principally  on  small  reptiles, 
field-mice  and  fish.  Its  nest  is  built  on  some  slight  eleva- 
tion in  a  morass,  and  contains  five  eggs. 

The  White  Spoonbill  is  found  in  Europe,  Asia  and 
Africa  and  frequents  Holland,  together  with  the  Stork. 
The  strange  shape  of  the  tip  of  its  beak  has  gained  it  the 
name  of  Spoonbill.  It  feeds  on  worms,  snails  and  water- 
plants,  searching  for  the  latter  by  agitating  the  water  with 
its  broad  beak. 

The  nest  of  the  Spoonbill  is  sometimes  placed  in  trees 
and  sometimes  amid  rushes.  It  contains  three  whitish 
eggs,  slightly  spotted  with  red.  The  length  of  the  bird  is- 
not  quite  three  feet. 

The  Stork  is  extensively  found  in  Europe,  Asia  and 
Africa.  In  Holland  Storks  are  very  abundant,  and  are  en- 
couraged by  the  Dutch  to  build  in  their  towns.  Among 
the  ruins  of  Persepolis  they  are  very  common,  scarcely 
one  pillar  being  without  a  Stork's  nest  at  the  summit.  In 
Holland  a  kind  of  false  chimney  is  built  by  the  inhab- 
itants for  these  birds  to  make  their  nests  in.  When  the 
Stork  cannot  find  a  building  on  which  to  make  its  nest, 
it  chooses  the  flat,  spreading  branches  of  a  cedar  or  pine, 
and  there  collects  a  large  mass  of  sticks  and  twigs,  on  which 
it  lays  from  three  to  five  whitish  eggs.  When  disturbed, 
the  birds  make  a  great  clattering  with  their  bills. 

Its  food  consists  of  rats,  mice,  frogs,  etc.,  and  it  is  for  the 
benefits  it  confers  upon  man  by  devouring  these  vermin 
that  it  is  so  carefully  protected  and  encouraged,  especially 
in  the  east,  where  the  inhabitants  do  not  trouble  them- 
selves by  removing1  carrion  or  offal,  but  leave  that  office 


avocet,  189 

to  the  Vultures,  Hyenas  and  other  scavengers  of  nature. 
Its  height  is  nearly  four  feet. 

The  Sacred  Ibis  inhabits  Egypt,  but  does  not  seem  to 
breed  there.  This  is  the  bird  so  frequently  depicted  in 
the  hieroglyphics  as  playing  a  conspicuous  part  in  relig- 
ious ceremonies.  Their  mummies  are  constantly  found  in 
the  tombs,  and  in  one  of  these  mummies  Cuvier  discovered 
remnants  of  skin  and  scales  of  snakes.  It  is  a  migratory 
bird,  appearing  simultaneously  with  the  rise  of  the  Nile, 
and  departing  as  the.  inundation  subsides.  The  Sacred 
Ibis  is  about  the  size  of  an  ordinary  fowl. 

The  Curlew  is  often  found  in  the  northern  parts  of 
England  and  Scotland,  and  is  spread  over  the  whole  of  the 
Old  World,  from  South  Africa  to  the  polar  regions.  In 
winter  it  collects  in  large  flocks  on  the  muddy  shores  of 
the  sea,  where  its  long,  curved  bill  can  easily  penetrate  in 
search  of  food.  It  is  an  exceedingly  shy  bird,  and  cannot 
easily  be  approached  within  gun-shot. 

Its  nest  is  composed  of  grass  and  rushes,  collected  under 
the  shelter  of  a  tuft  of  heath  or  grass,  and  contains  four 
eggs.     Its  length  slightly  exceeds  two  feet. 

The  common  Avocet  is  spread  throughout  the  warmer 
regions  of  Europe,  and  is  also  found  in  some  parts  of 
Africa.  It  is  very  common  in  Holland,  and  is  frequently 
seen  on  the  eastern  coast  of  England,  but  seldom  visits 
Scotland.  It  frequents  marshes  and  the  mouths  of  rivers, 
where  it  finds  in  the  mud  myriads  of  the  small  worms  and 
insects  on  which  it  feeds,  and  which  it  obtains  by  scoop- 
ing them  up  from  the  mud  with  its  curiously-curved  bill. 
It  is  a  remarkably  good  swimmer,  but  it  seldom  has  re- 
course to  that  art  except  when  it  wades  unexpectedly  out 
of  its  depth. 

The  eggs  of  the  Avocet  are  laid  on  the  ground,  in  a  de- 
pression sheltered  by  a  tuft  of  herbage.  Their  color  is  a 
bluish  green,  spotted  with  black.  The  birds  when  dis- 
turbed at  their  nests  feign  lameness,  like  the  Lapwing,  in 


190  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

order  to  draw  the  intruder  to  a  distance.  The  length  of 
the  bird  is  eighteen  inches. 

The  Woodcock  frequents  dense  thickets  during  the  day. 
but  at  night  it  leaves  these  retreats  and  visits  the  swamps 
and  flooded  meadows,  where  it  finds  a  sufficiency  of  worms 
and  insects. 

Its  nest  is  a  loose  mass  of  grass  and  leaves,  gathered  to- 
gether in  some  sheltered  depression.  The  eggs  are  four 
in  number. 

The  Snipe  is  too  well  known  to  need  description.  In  its 
habits  it  much  resembles  the  Woodcock.  Its  flight  is  very 
singular,  rendering  it  a  difficult  mark. 

The  Corncrake,  or  Landrail,  is  very  common  in  Eng- 
land. It  reaches  there  early  in  April,  and  leaves  at  the 
end  of  October,  after  hatching  its  eggs.  During  the  early 
part  of  the  summer  months  its  harsh  cry  may  be  heard 
in  almost  every  field,  but  the  bird  itself  is  very  seldom  seen, 
as  it  threads  its  way  among  the  long  grass  with  marvellous 
rapidity.  Its  cry  can  be  so  exactly  imitated  by  drawing  a 
quill  sharply  across  the  teeth  of  a. comb  that  the  bird  may 
be  decoyed  by  the  sound  until  quite  close  to  the  operator. 
The  Corncrake  is  so  averse  to  rising  on  the  wing  that  a  dog 
is  frequently  employed  to  hunt  it.  The  young  when  taken 
feign  death  with  admirable  accuracy,  nor  do  they  move 
until  they  imagine  that  the  intruder  is  out  of  the  way. 

The  nest  of  the  Corncrake  is  by  no  means  uncommon. 
It  is  formed  of  hay,  collected  and  worked  into  some  de- 
pression in  the  ground,  and  contains  from  eight  to  twelve 
eggs.     Its  length  is  about  nine  inches. 

The  Water-hen,  or  Moor-hen,  is  very  common  along 
the  reedy  banks  of  rivers  and  ponds.  It  is  very  widely  dis- 
tributed, being  found  in  almost  all  parts  of  the  Old  World. 
It  swims  very  gracefully,  constantly  nodding  its  head,  and 
dives  with  great  skill  and  rapidity,  particularly  when 
alarmed,  in  which  case  it  generally  dives  under  some  float- 
ing herbage,  and  remains  there  with  merely  its  beak  above 


WATER-HEN. 

the  water  until  the  danger  is  passed. 


\: 


191 

On  account  of  this 


Nl 


Flamingo, 

habit,  it  is  almost  useless  to  shoot  this  bird  unless  the 
sportsman,  is  accompanied  by  a  dog,  for  if  it  is  not  shot 


192  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

dead  it  instantly  dives,  and  nothing  but  a  dog  can  discovei 
its  retreat.  It  runs  on  land  with  considerable  activity,  con- 
stantly flirting  up  its  tail,  so  as  to  show  the  white  feathers 
beneath,  and,  when  alarmed,  instantly  makes  for  the 
water. 

The  water-hen's  nest  is  built  among  sedges  and  reeds,  at 
the  water-side,  and  contains  from  five  to  eight  eggs.  When 
the  water-hen  leaves  her  nest,  she  covers  the  eggs  with 
dried  grass  and  reeds,  so  as  completely  to  conceal  them, 
apparently  lest  the  rats  should  discover  them.  The  young 
when  hatched  look  like  round  tufts  of  black  down.  They 
swim  and  dive  well,  following  their  parent  with  great  ad- 
dress. The  pike  is  their  chief  enemy,  and  destroys  num- 
bers by  darting  at  them  from  under  the  cover  of  water- 
lilies  or  other  plants. 

The  Flamingo  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  warmer  parts  ol 
Europe,  and  is  common  in  Asia  and  on  the  coasts  of  Africa. 
The  singularly-shaped  beak  of  this  splendid  bird  is  pe- 
culiarly adapted  to  its  long  and  flexible  neck.  When  the 
bird  wishes  to  feed,  it  merely  stoops  its  head  into  the  wa- 
ter; the  upper  mandible  is  then  lowest,  and  is  well  fitted 
to  receive  the  nutritive  substances  which  are  entangled  in 
a  filter  placed  on  the  edges  of  the  beak,  much  resembling 
the  analogous  apparatus  of  the  whale. 

The  Flamingo  frequents  marshes,  lakes,  and  mouths  of 
rivers,  bidding  defiance  to  the  pestilent  exhalations  that 
drive  man  far  from  their  haunts.  The  color  of  their  plu- 
mage is  a  deep,  brilliant  scarlet,  except  the  quill  feathers, 
which  are  black.  When  a  number  of  these  birds  stand 
ranged  in  a  line,  according  to  their  custom,  they  present 
the  appearance  of  a  small  and  well-drilled  body  of  soldiers, 
but  are  far  more  dangerous  to  approach  than  the  most 
formidable  army,  for  the  miasma  of  the  marshes  has  a 
more  deadly  aim  than  the  rifle,  and  its  breath  is  more  cer- 
tainly fatal  than  the  bullet. 

The  nest  of  the  Flamingo  is  a  curious  conical  structure 


:->« 


^sT;- 


Bevick's  Swan.     Whistling  Swan.     Mute  Swan. 

(193) 


194  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

of  mud,  with  a  cavity  at  the  summit,  in  which  are  placed 
two  or  three  whitish  eggs.  When  the  female  bird  sits  on 
the  nest,  her  feet  rest  on  the  ground,  or  hang  into  the  wa- 
ter.    Its  height  is  about  six  feet. 

The  Mute  or  Tame  Swan,  a  well-known  ornament  in 
lakes  and  rivers,  was  introduced  from  Eastern  Europe  and 
Asia  several  hundred  years  ago.  All  are  familiar  with  the 
graceful  deportment  of  this  bird  while  sailing  on  the  water. 
Its  progress  on  land  is  confined  to  an  awkward  waddle. 

The  female  Swan  makes  its  nest  of  a  great  mass  of  dry 
reeds,  placed  among  osiers  or  rushes  near  the  water,  and 
hiys  six  or  eight  large  white  eggs.  During  the  time  of 
incubation,  and  while  the  young  are  still  small,  the  parent 
birds  defend  them  with  great  assiduity  and  courage. 

A  Black  Swan  has  been  discovered  in  Australia,  the 
whole  of  whose  plumage  is  a  jetty  black,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  quill  feathers,  which  are  white.  It  has  been 
domesticated,  and  may  be  seen  in  many  of  the  great  parks. 

The  Mallard  or  Wild  Duck  is  the  origin  of  our  do- 
mestic bird,  and  is  widely  spread  over  the  northern  parts 
of  Europe,  Asia,  and  America.  In  the  winter  it  migrates 
in  countless  flocks  to  the  warmer  States.  Incredible  num- 
bers of  these  birds  are  taken  in  a  very  ingenious  trap, 
called  a  decoy.  It  is  a  perfect  edifice  of  poles  and  nets, 
and  is  built  in  the  form  of  a  tube,  very  wide  at  the  mouth, 
and  very  narrow  at  the  extremity.  The  ducks  are  induced 
to  enter  thf  "pipe5'  by  the  antics  of  a  dog,  and  by  some 
hemp-seed  previously  strewn  on  the  water.  The}7  are  then 
driven  onwards  to  the  smaller  end,  where  they  are  caught 
and  killed. 

The  Colymbid.e  are  remarkable  for  their  powers  of 
diving.  The  legs  are  placed  very  far  behind,  and  the  toes 
are  so  arranged  as  to  fold  up  when  returning  from  the 
stroke. 

The  foot  of  the  Grebes  is  not  webbed  like  that  of  most 
water-birds,  but  each  toe  is  separated  and  flattened  so  as 


PUFFIN,  195 

*o  serve  as  a  separate  paddle.  The  Grebes  dive  so  instan- 
taneously that  it  is  difficult  to  shoot  them,  as  they  dive  at 
the  flash,  and  do  not  reappear  for  nearly  two  hundred 
yards,  and  then  they  merely  raise  their  head  above  water 
for  a  second,  and  again  disappear. 

All  the  Grebes  feed  upon  fishes  and  the  various  water- 
insects,  but  their  stomachs  are  almost  invariably  found  to 
contain  a  mass  of  their  own  feathers.  This  circumstance 
presents  a  singular  analogy  to  those  masses  of  compacted 
hair  which  are  found  in  the  stomachs  of  cows.  In  all 
probability  the  reason  for  their  presence  is  the  same,  that 
the  feathers  and  hairs  are  accidentally  conveyed  to  the 
stomach  after  the  creature  has  been  making  its  toilet. 

Of  the  three  species  of  Divers,  the  Great  Northern 
Diver  is  the  largest.  It  is  generally  found  on  the  shores 
of  the  Orkneys  and  Shetland. 

This  bird  justly  deserves  its  name  of  Diver,  as  it  can 
pursue  fish  under  water  with  the  greatest  ease  and  cer- 
tainty, and  can  remain  under  water  for  a  long  time. 

The  nest  of  this  bird  is  a  tolerably  large  flattened  mass 
of  dead  herbage,  and  is  placed  near  the  water's  edge,  in 
some  place  where  the  bird  imagines  that  the  reeds  and 
flags,  among  which  it  is  laid,  will  guard  it  from  discovery. 
But,  unfortunately,  the  bird  dislikes  flying,  and  prefers 
to  walk  to  and  from  its  nest,  thereby  leaving  a  very  evi- 
dent track,  by  which  it  is  often  discovered.. 

The  eggs  are  usually  two  in  number,  although  thret> 
have  been  found  in  one  nest. 

The  Puffin  is  common  at  the  Needles  and  on  the  western 
islands  of  England.  It  forms  deep  burrows  in  the  soil. 
in  which  one  egg  is  deposited,  or  usurps  the  burrow  of  a 
rabbit.  The  hole  is  generally  from  three  to  four  feet  in 
depth,  when  the  Puffin  is  forced  to  labor  for  itself;  it 
usually  takes  a  winding  course;  and  the  inhabitant  is  se- 
cured from  surprise  by  forming  two  entrances,  in  order 
that  if  oxxp  entrance  is  attacked  it  may  escape  by  the  other. 


195  NATURAL  HISTORY 

The  egg  is  alwa}rs  deposited  at  the  furthest  extremity  oi 
the  hole,  and  is  not  easy  to  be  obtained,  on  account  of  the 
vigorous  resistance  made  hy  the  parent  bird.  It  is  an  ex- 
cellent diver,  plunging  fearlessly  from  a  lofty  cliff  into  the 
sea,  and  speedily  returning  with  its  beak  full  of  fish,  usu- 
ally sprats,  which  are  secured  by  their  heads,  and  lie  in  a 
row  along  the  bill  of  the  Puffin,  forming  a  kind  offish  fringe. 
Its  enormous  and  sharp-edged  bill  renders  it  a  formidable 
antagonist  to  intruders.  The  length  of  the  bird  is  thirteen 
inches. 

It  is  said  that  the  Raven  and  the  Puffin  have  occasional 
conflicts,  the  object  of  dispute  being  generally  the  egg  or 
young  of  the  Auk,  for  which  the  Raven  has  a  great  predi- 
lection. The  issue  of  the  combat  depends  principally  on 
its  position,  each  bird  trying  to  keep  to  its  own  peculiar 
element.  If  the  Puffin  can  drag  the  Raven  over  the  rocks 
into  the  sea,  it  is  speedily  victorious,  as  it  drowns  its  sable 
adversary  without  much  trouble ;  but  if,  on  the  contrary, 
the  Raven  can  keep  to  shore,  its  superior  size  and  strength 
gain  the  dominion. 

The  Cape  Penguin  is  very  common  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  and  the  Falkland  Islands.  From  the  extraordinary 
sound  it  produces  while  on  shore,  it  is  called  the  Jackass 
Penguin.  Darwin  gives  the  following  interesting  account 
of  this  bird :  "  In  diving,  its  little  plumeless  wings  are 
ased  as  fins,  but  on  the  land  as  front  legs.  When  crawling 
(it  may  be  said  on  four  legs)  through  the  tussocks,  or  on 
the  side  of  a  grassy  cliff,  it  moved  so  very  quickly  that  it 
might  readily  have  been  mistaken  for  a  quadruped. 
When  at  sea  and  fishing,  it  comes  to  the  surface  for  the 
purpose  of  breathing  with  such  a  spring,  and  dives  again 
so  instantaneously,  that  I  defy  any  one  at  first  sight  to  be 
sure  that  it  is  not  a  fish  leaping  for  sport." 

These  birds  feed  their  young  in  a  singular  manner. 
The  parent  bird  gets  on  a  hillock,  and  apparently  delivers 
a  speech  for  a  few  minutes,  at  the  end  of  which  it  lowers 


CAPE  PENGUIN, 


197 


its  head  and  opens  its  beak.  The  young  one  thrusts  its 
head  into  the  beak  of  the  mother,  and  seems  to  suck  its 
substance  from  the  throat  of  the  parent  bird.    Another 


speech  is  made,  and  the  same  process  repeated  until  the 
young  is  satisfied. 

This  Penguin  is  very  courageous,  but  utterly  destitute 
of  the  better  part  of  courage — discretion ;  for  it  will  boldly 
charge  at  a  man.  A  few  blows  from  a  stick  is  sufficient 
to  lay  a  dozen  birds  prostrate. 


X<*~ Natural  History 


I98  NATURAL  R1STURX. 

The  Stormy  Petrel  is,  under  the  name  of  Mother 
Carey's  Chicken,  the  terror  of  the  sailor,  who  always  con- 
siders the  bird  as  the  precursor  of  a  storm.  It  is  the 
smallest  of  the  web-footed  birds.  Few  storms  are  violent 
enough  to  keep  this  curious  little  bird  from  wandering 
over  the  waves  in  search  of  the  food  that  the  disturbed 
water  casts  to  the  surface.  Like  the  Fulmar,  the  Stormy 
Petrel  is  so  exceedingly  oily  in  texture  that  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  Feroe  Islands  draw  a  wick  through  its  body 
and  use  it  as  a  lamp. 

The  Wandering  Albatross,  the  largest  of  the  genus,  is 
a  well-known  bird  in  the  southern  seas,  following  ships 
for  many  miles  in  hopes  of  obtaining  the  refuse  thrown 
overboard.  So  voracious  is  the  Albatross  that  it  will  swal- 
low a  five-pound  fish  entire.  Its  flight  is  peculiarly  ma- 
jestic. Its  extreme  length  of  wing  prevents  it  from  rising 
at  once  from  the  ground,  but  when  once  launched  into 
the  air,  it  seems  to  float  and  direct  its  course  without 
effort.  The  expanse  of  wing  in  the  Wandering  Albatross 
is  nearly  fourteen  feet. 

The  voracity  of  the  Albatross  renders  it  an  easy  prey. 
A  hook  is  baited  with  a  piece  of  blubber,  fastened  firmly 
to  a  string,  and  suffered  to  tow  astern.  The  bird  sweeps 
down  to  seize  its  prey,  and  is  arrested  by  the  hook,  by 
means  of  which  it  is  drawn  into  the  ship.  It  seems  rather 
remarkable  that  a  bird  that  lives  in  or  over  the  sea  during 
its  whole  life  should  prove  a  landsman  when  taken  on 
board.  Yet,  when  caught  and  placed  on  deck,  it  begins  to 
stagger  about,  and  soon  becomes  as  thoroughly  sea-sick  as 
the  most  inexperienced  sailor. 

The  Black-backed  Gull  is  a  common  bird  on  the 
coasts,  During  the  winter  it  seeks  the  warmer  coasts  of 
southern  Europe.  It  breeds  in  great  numbers  on  the 
shores  of  the  Bristol  Channel,  the  Orkneys,  and  other 
coasts  of  Great  Britain.  Its  nest  is  composed  of  grass, 
rushes,  and  other  materials,  and  contains  three  or  four 


TERNS. 


199 


eggs.    Neither  the  gulls  nor  the  terns  dive,  but  snatch  up 
their  prey  when  at  or  near  the  surface. 
The  Terns,  or  Sea-Swallows,  are  possessed  of  great 


m 


"WK**^-- *3i-EK 


^C*   ~ 


European  Pelican. 


power  and  endurance  of  flight,  their  long  forked  tails  and 
pointed  wings  indicating  strength  and  swiftness. 


200  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

They  are  found  in  plenty  along  the  southern  shores  of 
Europe,  in  many  parts  of  Asia  and  Africa,  and  are  fre- 
quently seen  on  the  southern  shores  of  England,  and  have 
been  found  in  North  America.  It  preys  on  fish,  which  it 
snatches  from  the  surface  with  unerring  aim,  as  it  skims 
over  the  waves  with  astonishing  velocity. 

Its  nest  is  made  on  the  sand  above  high- water  mark, 
and  contains  two  or  three  eggs,  on  which  the  female  usu- 
ally sits  by  night.     Its  length  is  about  fourteen  inches. 

The  Noddy,  so  frequently  celebrated  by  travellers  wha 
have  passed  the  equator,  is  a  species  of  Tern. 

The  Cormorant  is  found  in  abundance,  being  widely 
spread  over  many  parts  of  the  world.  It  is  exceedingly 
voracious,  and  devours  a  great  amount  of  fish.  It  is  an 
excellent  diver,  and  chases  the  fish  actually  under  the 
water,  seldom  if  ever  returning  without  having  secured  its 
prey.  Like  the  Otter,  when  engaged  in  chase,  it  occasion- 
ally rises  to  take  breath,  and  then  resumes  the  pursuit 
with  renewed  vigor. 

The  Cormorant  has  the  power  of  perching  on  trees,  an 
accomplishment  one  should  hardly  suspect  a  web-footed 
bird  of  possessing. 

It  is  easily  tamed,  and  its  fishing  propensities  can  be 
turned  to  good  account.  The  Chinese  employ  a  kind  of 
Cormorant  for  that  purpose,  having  previously  placed  a 
ring  round  the  bird's  neck,  to  prevent  it  from  swallowing 
the  fish.  The  eggs  of  this  bird  are  usually  laid  on  the 
rock,  but  sometimes  in  the  branches  of  trees.  A  thick 
coat  of  chalk  envelopes  the  eggs,  and  can  be  easily  scraped 
off  with  a  knife.     Its  length  is  about  three  feet. 

The  White  Pelican  inhabits  Africa,  India  and  great 
part  of  the  southeastern  portions  of  Europe.  It  is  a  very 
conspicuous  bird,  its  singular  membranous  pouch  offering 
a  distinction  perfectly  unmistakable.  The  pouch,  when 
distended,  holds  two  gallons  of  water,  but  the  bird  has  the 
power  of  contracting  it  so  that  it  is  scarcely  to  be  discerned. 


WHITE  PELICAN.  201 

The  pouch  also  serves  as  a  net  in  which  to  scoop  up  the 
fish  on  which  the  Pelican  feeds.  Another  most  important 
use  of  the  pouch  is  to  convey  food  to  the  young.  The 
parent  Pelican  presses  the  pouch  against  its  breast,  in 
order  to  enable  the  young  to  obtain  the  fish,  which  action, 
in  all  probability,  gave  rise  to  the  fable  of  the  Pelican 
feeding  its  young  with  its  own  blood.  The  red  tip  of  the 
bill  probably  aided  the  deception. 

Although  a  web-footed  bird,  the  Pelican,  like  the  Cor- 
morant, can  perch  on  trees,  although  it  prefers  sitting  on 
rocks.  The  color  of  this  bird  is  a  pure  white,  with  a  very 
slight  tinge  of  rose-color,  and  the  pouch  is  yellow.  Its 
length  is  nearly  six  feet. 


y/jt.  r  JJJL- 7>  U 


REPTILES. 

We  now  arrive  at  the  singular  Class  of  Reptiles.  The 
animals  of  this  class  vary  exceedingly  in  their  forms,  sizes 
and  habits,  but  the  peculiar  formation  of  the  circulatory 
system,  together  with  many  other  anatomical  distinctions, 
plainly  mark  them  out  as  a  distinct  class. 

The  Lizards  are  usually  active,  bright-eyed  little  creat- 
ures, delighting  to  bask  in  the  sun,  near  some  safe  re* 
treat,  to  which  they  dart  with  astonishing  celerity  upon 
the  slightest  alarm.  The  Sand  Lizard  is  considerably 
larger  than  the  Common  Lizard,  as  it  sometimes  measures 
a  foot  in  length.  It  frequents  sandy  heaths,  and  in  the 
sand  its  eggs  are  deposited — fifteen  in  number.  The  eggs 
are  hatched  by  the  heat  of  the  sun,  and  the  young  imme- 
diately lead  an  independent  life.  During  the  winter  this 
as  well  as  the  Common  Lizard  hybernates  in  a  burrow  usu- 
ally made  under  the  roots  of  a  tree,  nor  does  it  again  make 
its  appearance  until  the  spring. 

It  is  only  six  inches  in  length.  It  is  more  active  than 
the  Sand  Lizard,  disappearing  like  magic  on  being  alarmed. 
When  seized,  its  tail  frequently  snaps  off  like  glass.  Both 
feed  on  insects. 

The  Blind-worm  is  not  a  snake,  as  generally  supposed, 
but  a  legless  lizard  of  the  Skink  family.  It  is  perfectly 
harmless;  its  small  mouth  and  very  minute  teeth  preclud- 
ing all  attempts  to  injure,  even  if  it  had  the  will.  When 
alarmed,  it  snaps  asunder  at  the  slightest  blow,  like  the 
tail  of  the  Common  Lizard,  and  from  that  peculiarity  has 
derived  its  name  "  fragilis."  It  feeds  almost  entirely  on 
small  slugs,  its  jaws  not  being  capable  of  admitting  any 
i  202 ) 


CHAMELEON.  203 

larger  prey.  It  is  very  common,  and  may  be  seen  bask- 
ing in  the  sun  in  hedgerows  or  under  old  walls.  Its  eyes 
are  very  small,  but  brilliant. 

The  Iguana  family  is  a  very  large  one.  containing  150 
species.  The  Common  Iguana  is  a  native  of  Brazil,  Cay- 
enne, Jamaica,  etc.  In  spite  of  its  repulsive  appearance,  it 
is  with  many  people  a  favorite  article  of  food,  and  is  said 
somewhat  to  resemble  chicken.  It  is  fierce  when  attacked, 
and  snaps  at  its  enemies  in  a  most  determined  manner, 
often  scaring  away  an  intruder  by  the  ferocity  of  its  aspect. 
It  is  generally  taken  by  throwing  a  noose  over  its  head,  and 
dragging  it  from  the  branches  by  main  force.  It  is  then 
immediately  killed,  as  its  sharp  notched  teeth  can  inflict  a 
disagreeable  wound.  Sometimes  it  is  hunted  with  dogs 
trained  to  the  sport.  It  attains  a  considerable  size,  fre- 
quently reaching  the  length  of  six  feet.  It  feeds  usually 
on  vegetable  substances,  such  as  leaves,  fruit  and  fungi ; 
but  Iguanas  have  been  seen  in  the  Island  of  Isabella  that 
feed  on  eggs,  insects  and  even  the  intestines  of  fowls. 

The  terrible  name  of  Flying  Dragon  belongs  to  a 
harmless  little  lizard,  which  lives  on  trees  and  feeds  on 
insects.  The  peculiar  structure  of  its  body  bears  a  singu- 
lar resemblance  to  that  of  the  Flying  Squirrel.  The  first 
six  false  ribs  are  greatly  elongated,  and  support  a  wing- 
like expansion  of  skin,  which  when  stretched  serves  to 
bear  them  up  as  they  skim  through  the  air  from  one  tree 
to  another.  While  running  about  on  the  branches,  the 
so-called  wings  are  folded  to  the  side,  but  when  it  wishes 
to  throw  itself  from  the  tree,  the  ribs  are  raised,  and  the 
wings  expanded.  It  is  common  in  Java,  India  and 
Borneo. 

The  Chameleon  is  plentifully  found  in  northern  Africa, 
the  south  of  Spain  and  Sicily.     It  lives  on  trees,  but  ex- 
hibits none  of  the  activity  usually  found  in  arboreal  rep 
tiles.     On  the  contrary,  its  movements  are  absurdly  grave 
and  solemn.     The  whole  activity  of  the  animal  seems  to 


204  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

be  centered  in  its  tongue,  by  means  of  which  organ  it  se- 
cures flies  and  other  insects  with  such  marvellous  rapidity 
that  the  ancients  may  be  well  pardoned  for  their  assertion 
that  the  air  formed  the  only  food  of  the  Chameleon. 
Highly  exaggerated  descriptions  have  been  given  of  the 
changes  of  color  in  this  animal.  The  changes  are  by  no 
means  so  complete,  nor  are  the  colors  so  bright,  as  gene- 
rally supposed. 

The  power  of  the  Chameleon  to  move  its  eyes  in  differ- 
ent directions  at  the  same  time  gives  it  a  most  singular 
aspect.  Its  enormously  long  tongue  can  be  withdrawn 
into  the  mouth  when  not  in  use ;  but  when  the  creature 
sees  a  fly  within  reach,  the  tongue  is  instantly  darted 
forth,  and  by  means  of  a  gummy  secretion  at  the  tip  se- 
cures the  fly  The  whole  movement  is  so  quick  as  almost 
to  elude  the  eye. 

The  peculiar  gliding  movements  of  the  Snakes  render 
them  excellent  types  of  the  reptiles;  a  word  derived  from 
the  Latin  repo,  I  creep.  The  extraordinary  flexibility  of 
their  bodies  is  caused  by  the  structure  of  their  vertebrae, 
each  one  of  which  fits  into  one  behind  it  by  a  ball-and- 
socket  joint,  thus  allowing  freedom  of  motion  in  every 
direction. 

The  Rattlesnake  is  a  native  of  America.  Its  name  is 
derived  from  the  loose  bony  structure  at  the  extremity  ol 
its  tail,  called  the  rattle,  and  which  by  the  sound  of  its 
movements  gives  timely  intimation  of  the  vicinity  of  this 
terrible  reptile.  Fortunately,  its  disposition  is  exceedingly 
sluggish,  and  it  invariably  sounds  its  rattle  when  irritated 
or  disturbed.  Its  bite  is  inevitably  mortal,  and  death 
always  ensues  within  a  few  hours  after  the  wound  has 
been  inflicted. 

The  deadly  weapons  with  which  the  venomous  serpents 
are  armed  are  two  long  curved  fangs  belonging  to  the 
upper  jaw,  and  moving  on  a  hinge,  by  which  they  lie  flat 
in  the  mouth  when  not  wanted.    An  aperture  exists  in 


Jfflu  >, 


206  NATURAL  HISTORY 

the  point  of  the  fang,  by  which  a  poisonous  fluid,  secreted 
in  a  gland  at  the  base  of  the  tooth,  is  poured  into  the 
wound,  and,  mixing  with  the  blood,  rapidly  carries  its 
deadly  influence  throughout  the  entire  system.  A  physi- 
cian exhibiting  a  caged  rattlesnake  to  his  friends,  ap- 
proached his  hand  too  near  the  irritated  reptile,  who  in- 
flicted a '  wound,  and,  although  every  precaution  was 
taken,  the  bite  proved  fatal  in  a  few  hours. 

The  inhabitants  of  those  countries  where  the  Rattle- 
snake lives  are  not  very  much  afraid  of  it,  as  they  know 
that  it  will  be  sure  to  run  away  directly  it  hears  the  ap- 
proach of  human  footsteps.  It  appears  that  when  a  man 
is  cutting  wood  or  otherwise  engaged  in  a  forest,  and  hears 
a  Rattlesnake  near  him,  he  has  no  fear,  as  long  as  he  can 
keep  its  rattle  going,  but  directly  the  sound  ceases,  the 
man  is  rather  in  dread,  not  knowing  where  the  animal 
may  turn  up  next;  so  he  keeps  the  snake  in  a  constant 
state  of  alarm  by  throwing  bits  of  wood  or  sticks  at  the 
place  where  the  reptile  is  lying,  and  on  again  hearing  the 
sound  of  the  rattle  he  continues  his  work  in  confidence 
until  the  snake  is  silent,  when  some  more  missiles  are 
sent  in  the  same  direction. 

Even  when  these  snakes  are  ready  for  a  spring  they  can 
be  avoided  by  smartly  clapping  the  hands  together,  or 
striking  the  ground  with  a  stick.  The  snake  has  the  whole 
powers  of  its  mind  bent  upon  its  fatal  stroke,  and,  on 
hearing  such  an  unexpected  sound,  it  is  startled,  like  a 
man  suddenly  waked  from  sleep,  and  falls  down  in  its 
coil  again,  giving  time  for  its  intended  victim  to  escape 
before  it  has  made  up  its  mind  to  another  assault.  Its 
length  seldom  exceeds  seven  feet. 

The  Puff  Adder  is  an  inhabitant  of  Southern  Africa. 
It  is  a  short,  thick,  flatfish  snake,  of  a  most  sinister  and 
malignant  aspect,  whose  bite  will  sometimes  kill  in  an 
hour. 

It  is  the  more  dangerous,  because  it  has  a  way  of  flat' 


208  NATURAL  HISTORr, 

tening  itself  upon  the  ground,  so  that,  when  it  is  lying  thus 
concealed  upon  the  sand,  an  incautious  pedestrian  is  very 
likely  to  tread  upon  it. 

The  Common  Viper,  or  Adder,  is  the  only  venomous 
reptile  inhabiting  England,  nor  is  its  bite  nearly  so  dan- 
gerous in  its  consequences  as  has  been  reported.  Seldom 
has  the  Viper  proved  mortal ;  and  in  all  probability,  if 
proper  precaution  be  taken,  no  case  would  have  been 
fatal.  Viper-catchers  employ  olive  oil  as  a  remedy  against 
the  bite,  and  from  all  accounts  it  appears  to  be  a  certain 
preservative  against  all  evil  effects.  The  oil  should  be 
heated  to  produce  its  full  efficacy. 

It  is  asserted  that,  when  danger  threatens,  the  female 
Viper  opens  her  mouth  and  permits  her  brood  to  hide 
themselves,  but  it  is  by  no  means  an  ascertained  fact. 

Frogs,  lizards,  mice  and  other  small  animals  form  the 
food  of  this  reptile. 

The  enormous  Boa-constrictor  inhabits  tropical-Amer- 
ica. It  is  not  venomous,  but  it  is  not  the  less  dangerous, 
as  the  tremendous  power  of  its  muscles  enables  it  to  crush 
its  prey  in  the  coils  of  its  huge  body.  In  order  to  procure 
its  food  it  lies  in  wait  by  the  side  of  some  river  or  pool, 
where  animals  of  all  kinds  are  likely  to  come  to  quench 
their  thirst.  It  patiently  waits  until  some  animal  draws 
within  reach,  when  with  one  spring  the  Boa  fixes  its  teeth 
in  the  creature's  head,  coils  its  body  round  its  victim,  and 
crushes  it  to  death.  After  the  unfortunate  animal  has 
been  reduced  almost  to  a  shapeless  mass  by  the  pressure 
of  the  snake,  its  destroyer  makes  preparations  for  swallow- 
ing it  entire,  a  task  which  it  accomplishes,  although  the 
slaughtered  animal  is  usually  very  much  larger  than  the 
dimensions  of  the  sequent.  At  last  the  snake  succeeds  in 
swallowing  its  prey,  and  then  lies  torpid  for  nearly  a 
month,  until  its  enormous  meal  is  digested,  when  it  again 
sallies  forth  in  search  of  another. 

Even  the  buffalo  has  been  known  to  fall  a  victim  to  this 


TORTOISE.  209 

fearful  serpent,  whose  length  frequently  exceeds  twenty- 
five  feet. 

The  Cobra  de  Capello  is  a  native  of  India. 

The  serpent-charmers  invariably  use  this  formidable  rep- 
tile for  their  performances.  The  exhibitors  possess  several 
Cobras  shut  up  in  baskets,  and  when  commencing  their 
performances  the  lid  of  the  basket  is  opened  and  the  snake 
creeps  out.  Its  course  is  arrested  by  the  sound  of  the  rude 
fife  that  the  charmer  always  carries,  and  it  immediately 
expands  its  beautiful  though  threatening  hood,  erects  its- 
neck  and  commences  a  series  of  undulating  movements, 
which  are  continued  until  the  sound  of  the  fife  ceases, 
when  the  snake  instantly  drops  and  is  replaced  in  its  basket 
by  its  master.  The  charmers  appear  to  be  able  to  discover 
6nakes  and  to  induce  them  to  leave  their  retreats.  Indeed 
it  is  rather  a  singular  fact  that  those  travellers  who  most 
strongly  insist  that  the  snakes  thus  caught  are  tame  and 
divested  of  their  fangs  appear  to  forget  that  even  in  that 
case  the  creatures  must  have  been  previously  caught  in 
order  to  deprive  them  of  their  weapons.  The  length  of 
this  snake  is  about  five  or  six  feet. 

The  Common  Kinged  or  Grass  Snake  is  a  harmless  in- 
habitant of  this  country,  and  may  be  frequently  seen  or 
heard  gliding  along  the  hedge-banks  in  search  of  food.  It 
is  easily  tamed,  and  soon  learns  to  know  its  master.  It 
lives  principally  on  frogs,  mice,  young  birds,  newts,  etc. 
It  is  an  excellent  swimmer,  and  from  the  peculiar  con- 
struction of  its  lungs  can  remain  under  water  for  some  time- 
Like  all  other  serpents,  the  Ringed  Snake  sheds  its  skin 
several  times  during  the  year.  The  entire  skin  comes  off. 
even  the  covering  of  the  eyes.  A  rent  opens  in  the  neck, 
and  the  snake,  by  entangling  itself  in  the  thick  grass  or 
bushes,  actually  creeps  out  of  its  skin,  turning  it  inside 
out  in  the  effort. 

The  Tortoese.  The  whole  of  this  order  is  characterized 
by  the  complete  suit  of  bony  armor  with  which  the  ani- 


210  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

mals  are  protected.  The  so-called  "shell  "  is  in  fact  a  de- 
velopment of  so  many  bones,  and  not  a  mere  horny  ap- 
pendage like  the  coverings  of  the  Armadillo  and  Manis. 
The  upper  shield  is  called  the  "  carapace,"  and  is  united 
to  the  under  shield  or  "  plastron  "  by  certain  bones,  leav- 
ing orifices  for  the  protrusion  of  the  head  and  limbs. 
Most  species  are  able  to  withdraw  their  head  and  limbs 
completely  within  the  shell,  and  in  some  few  the  orifices 
are  closed  by  a  kind  of  hinge-joint.  The  tortoise-shell  of 
commerce  is  a  series  of  horny  plates  that  cover  the  ex- 
terior of  the  shield,  and  is  in  great  request  on  account  of 
the  beautiful  wavy  markings  that  are  so  familiar  to  our 
eyes. 

The  Tortoises  and  Turtles  possess  no  teeth,  but  the  side* 
of  their  jaws  are  very  hard  and  sharp,  enabling  them  tfc 
crop  vegetable  substances  or  to  inflict  a  severe  bite. 

The  family  is  divided  into  Land  Tortoise,  Marsh  Tor- 
toise, River  Tortoise  and  Marine  Tortoise  or  Turtles. 

The  Land  Tortoise  is  found  in  abundance  in  the  south 
of  Europe  and  in  America.  It  is  often  kept  in  captivity 
in  this  country,  and  is  very  long-lived,  individuals  being 
known  to  have  exceeded  200  years.  Its  movements  are 
very  slow,  but  it  can  excavate  a  burrow  with  unexpected 
rapidity.  Secure  in  an  impenetrable  covering,  it  bids  defi- 
ance to  any  ordinary  enemy  except  man  and  the  Boa-con- 
strictor. Man  takes  him  home  and  roasts  him,  and  the 
Boa-constrictor  swallows  him  whole,  shell  and  all,  and  con- 
sumes him  slowly  in  the  interior. 

I  had  a  Land  Tortoise  for  a  few  months,  part  of  whose 
life  is  described  in  the  following  passage : 

The  Tortoise  was  a  very  small  one,  and  was  tolerably 
lively,  walking  about  the  room  and  always  settling  on  the 
hearth-rug.  It  had  a  great  genius  for  climbing,  and  would 
sometimes  spend  nearly  an  hour  in  endeavoring  to  scale 
the  fender,  probably  attracted  by  the  heat.  Unfit  as  the 
fo»*n  of  the  creature  may  seem  for  such  a  purpose,  it  did 


212  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

contrive  to  scramble  upon  a  footstool  which  was  placed  by 
the  fender.  Its  method  of  attaining  this  elevation  was  as 
follows :  First  it  reared  up  against  the  footstool  in  the  angle 
formed  by  it  and  the  fender,  and  after  several  ineffectual 
attempts,  succeeded  in  hitching  the  claws  of  one  of  its 
hind  feet  into  the  open  work  of  the  fender.  On  this  it 
raised  itself,  and  held  on  to  the  top  of  the  stool  by  its  fore- 
feet, while  it  gained  another  step  on  the  fender,  and  so 
managed  to  raise  itself  to  such  a  height  that  it  only  had 
to  fall  fiat  on  the  top  of  the  footstool.  When  once  there 
it  could  hardly  be  induced  to  leave  the  elevation  which  it 
had  gained  with  such  difficulty. 

Its  food  consisted  of  bread  and  milk,  which  it  ate  several 
times  a  day,  drinking  the  milk  by  scooping  up  some  of  it 
in  its  lower  jaw,  and  then,  by  throwing  its  head  back,  the 
milk  ran  down  its  throat.  Tortoises  are  generally  long- 
lived,  but  this  animal  died  within  a  few  months  after  it 
came  into  my  possession,  in  all  probability  because,  for 
some  days,  its  food  was  placed  in  a  brass  vessel. 

The  Green  Turtle.  The  feet  of  the  Marine  Tortoises, 
or  Turtles,  are  modified  into  fins  or  flippers,  just  as  are  the 
feet  of  the  Seals,  and  consequently,  although  the  Turtles 
are  active  in  the  water,  on  land  their  walk  is  nothing  but 
an  awkward  shuffle.  The  flippers,  however,  are  admirable 
instruments  for  scooping  out  the  sand,  in  which  the  eggs 
are  laid,  and  afterwards  covered  over.  Nearly  200  eggs 
are  laid  in  one  nest.  The  eggs  are  held  in  great  estima- 
tion, but  the  albumen,  or  u  white,"  does  not  become  hard 
by  boiling. 

The  Green  Turtle,  whose  flesh  is  considered  such  a 
luxury,  is  common  in  Jamaica  and  most  of  the  islands  of 
the  East  and  West  Indies.  The  Turtles  are  captured  by 
turning  them  on  their  backs ;  for  the  carapace  is  so  flat, 
and  their  legs  are  so  short,  that  they  are  forced  to  lie  help* 
less  until  their  captors  have  leisure  to  drag  them  away. 
The  Green  Turtle  has  been  known  to  reach  the  weight  of 


CROCODILE, 


213 


600  pounds.    The  tortoise-shell  of  commerce  is  almost  en- 
tirely obtained  from  the  Hawksbill  Turtle. 
The  Crocodile.    These  animals  are  separated  from  the 


I 


mmmmmmmmimkjitmmm 


"MsM 


Green  Turtle. 


lizards  on  account  of  the  peculiar  horny  covering  with 
which  they  are  protected. 

The  Crocodile  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  Old  World,  the 
Alligator  of  the  New,  and  the  two  animals  are  best  dis- 


14 — Natural  History 


214  NATVBAL  HISTORY. 

tinguished  by  the  construction  of  the  jaws.  In  the  Croco- 
diles the  lower  canine  teeth  fit  into  a  notch  in  the  edge  of 
the  upper  jaw,  and  there  is  in  consequence  a  contraction 
of  the  muzzle  just  behind  the  nostrils.  The  lower  canine 
teeth  of  the  Alligators  fit  into  a  pit  in  the  edge  of  the  upper 
jaw,  and  in  consequence  no  contraction  is  needed.  At 
the  back  of  the  throat  is  a  valve  completely  shutting  out 
water,  but  leaving  the  passage  to  the  nostrils  free,  so  that 
the  Crocodile  can  keep  his  mouth  open  when  beneath  the 
surface,  without  swallowing  the  water,  or  can  hold  his 
prey  down  to  drown  under  the  water,  while  he  breathes  at 
ease  with  his  nostrils  at  the  surface.  There  is  no  true 
tongue. 

The  Crocodile  inhabits  many  African  rivers,  and  is, 
probably,  the  reptile  infesting  the  Ganges.  The  Nile,  how- 
ever, is  the  best  known  haunt  of  this  terrible  creature.  It 
feeds  on  fish,  floating  carrion,  and  dogs,  or  other  animals, 
which  it  is  enabled  to  surprise  as  they  come  to  drink  at 
the  water's  edge ;  but  man  frequently  falls  a  victim  to  its 
voracity.  In  revenge  for  this  treatment,  all  nations  per- 
secuted with  this  pest  have  devised  various  methods  of 
killing  it.  The  negroes  of  some  parts  of  Africa  are  suffi- 
ciently bold  and  skilful  to  attack  the  Crocodile  in  his  own 
element.  They  fearlessly  plunge  into  the  water,  and  div- 
ing beneath  him,  plunge  the  dagger  with  which  they  are 
armed  into  the  creature's  belly,  which  is  not  protected  by 
the  coat  of  mail  that  guards  the  other  parts  of  its  body. 
The  usual  plan  is  to  lie  in  wait  near  the  spot  where  the 
Crocodile  is  accustomed  to  repose.  This  is  usually  a  sand- 
bank, and  the  hunter  digs  a  hole  in  the  sand,  and,  armed 
with  a  sharp  harpoon,  patiently  awaits  the  coming  of  his 
expected  prey.  The  Crocodile  comes  to  its  accustomed 
spot,  and  is  soon  asleep,  when  it  is  suddenly  roused  by 
the  harpoon,  which  penetrates  completely  through  its  scaly 
covering.  The  hunter  immediately  retreats  to  a  canoe,  and 
hauls  at  the  line  attached  to  the  harpoon  until  he  drags 


ALLIGATOR, 


215 


the  Crocodile  to  the  surface,  when  he  darts  a  second  har- 
poon. The  straggling  animal  is  soon  wearied  out,  dragged 
to  the  shore,  and  dispatched  by  dividing  the  spinal  cord. 
In  order  to  prevent  the  infuriated  reptile  from  biting  the 
cord  asunder,  it  is  composed  of  about  thirty  small  lines,  not 
twisted,  but  only  bound  together  at  intervals  of  two  feet. 


Nile  Crocodile. 

When  on  land  it  is  not  difficult  to  escape  the  Crocodile, 
as  certain  projections  on  the  vertebra?  of  the  neck  prevent 
it  from  turning  its  head  to  any  great  extent. 

The  eggs  of  this  creature  are  very  small,  hardly  ex- 
ceeding those  of  a  goose ;  numbers  are  annually  destroyed 
by  birds  of  prey  and  quadrupeds,  especially  the  Ich- 
neumon. 

The  Alligator  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  New  World,  and 


216  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

is  common  in  our  southern  rivers.  It  pursues  fish  with 
exceeding  dexterity,  by  driving  a  shoal  of  them  into  a 
creek,  and  then  plunging  amid  the  terrified  mass,  and  de- 
vouring its  victims  at  its  pleasure.  It  also  catches  pigs, 
dogs,  and  other  animals  that  venture  too  close  to  the  river. 
In  that  case,  as  the  animal  is  too  large  to  be  swallowed  en- 
tire, the  Alligator  conceals  it  in  some  hole  in  the  bank 
until  it  begins  to  putrefy,  when  it  is  dragged  out  and  de- 
voured under  the  concealment  of  the  rank  herbage  fring- 
ing the  river. 

The  usual  method  of  taking  this  creature  is  by  baiting  a 
most  formidable  four-pointed  hook,  composed  of  wooden 
spikes  artistically  arranged,  and  suffering  it  to  float  in  the 
river.  When  an  Alligator  has  swallowed  it,  he  is  hauled 
on  the  shore  by  the  rope  and  slaughtered. 

Like  the  Crocodile,  the  Alligator  lays  its  eggs  in  the 
sandy  bank  of  the  river.  Fortunately,  but  few  of  the 
young  ever  reach  maturity,  as  their  ranks  are  thinned  by 
various  birds  and  beasts  of  prey  before  the  eggs  are 
hatched,  and  by  the  attacks  of  large  fishes,  and  even  their 
own  species,  when  they  have  reached  the  water. 

The  appearance  and  habits  of  the  Frog  and  the  Toad 
are  so  familiar  as  to  require  but  little  description.  A  short 
account,  however,  is  necessary  of  the  peculiarities  common 
to  both  Frogs  and  Toads. 

In  the  early  stage  of  their  existence,  these  animals  are 
termed  tadpoles.  They  at  first  appear  to  be  nothing  but 
head  and  tail,  but  after  several  days  have  passed,  four  legs 
are  observed  to  become  developed.  These  rapidly  in- 
crease, and  the  little  creature  closely  resembles  a  small 
eft.  In  due  time,  however,  the  tail  is  lost,  and  the  creature 
becomes  a  perfect  Frog.  Another  important  change  also 
takes  place.  In  its  tadpole  state  the  creature  was  essen- 
tially a  water  animal,  but  after  its  change  has  taken  place 
it  is  not  able  to  exist  under  water  for  any  great  length  of 
time,  and  is  forced  to  come  to  the  surface  to  breathe. 


2 1 8  NA  TURAL  HJ8T0B  Y 

The  tongue  of  the  Frog  is  curiously  fixed  almost  at  tne 
entrance  of  the  mouth,  and  when  at  rest  points  backwards 
down  the  throat.  When,  however,  the  Frog  comes  writhin 
reach  of  a  slug  or  insect,  the  tongue  is  darted  out  with 
exceeding  rapidity,  the  slug  secured,  carried  to  the  back  of 
the  throat,  and  swallowed. 

Both  Frogs  and  Toads  hibernate,  the  former  congregating 
in  multitudes  in  the  mud  at  the  bottom  of  ponds  and 
marshes,  while  the  latter  choose  a  hole  in  the  ground,  fre- 
quently at  the  roots  of  a  tree,  and  pass  the  winter  in  soli- 
tary dignity. 

The  skin  of  these  animals  has  the  property  of  imbibing 
water,  so  that  if  an  apparently  emaciated  Frog  is  placed  in 
a  damp  place,  it  will  soon  look  quite  plump. 

The  Common  Frog  is  a  well-known  frequenter  of  marshy 
places  and  the  banks  of  rivers.  It  is  an  admirable  swim- 
mer, and  from  the  peculiar  construction  of  its  lungs  can 
remain  for  some  time  under  water,  but  is  forced  periodi- 
cally to  come  to  the  surface  for  the  purpose  of  breathing. 

The  Bull-Frog  is  an  inhabitant  of  North  America.  It  is 
very  voracious,  feeding  upon  fishes,  mollusks,  and  even 
young  fowl.  Its  powers  of  leaping  are  so  great  that  an 
Indian  was  not  able  to  overtake  an  irritated  Bull-Frog  after 
it  had  sprung  three  hops  in  advance.  It  is  very  large, 
measuring  about  seven  inches  in  length. 

The  Tree  Frogs  are  \erj  peculiar  animals.  The  con- 
struction of  their  feet,  something  resembling  that  of  the 
geckos,  enables  them  to  traverse  the  branches,  and  even 
to  hang  on  the  under  surface  of  a  pendant  leaf,  which  it 
so  resembles  in  color  that  the  unwary  insect  passes  by 
and  is  instantly  seized  by  the  watchful  frog.  The  Green 
Tree  Frog  is  the  most  common,  and  is  plentifully  found  in 
southern  Europe  and  northern  Africa.  There  are  several 
specimens  in  the  Zoological  Gardens,  which  present  a  most 
■absurd  appearance  as  they  stick  against  the  pane  of  glass 
forming  the  front  of  their  cage. 


TOAD.  219 

The  Toad  has  had  lis  full  share  of  marvellous  tales.  Its 
poisonous  properties  are  celebrated  in  many  an  ancient 
chronicle,  as  are  also  the  virtues  of  the  jewel  contained  in 
its  head. 

Its  skin  certainly  does  secrete  an  acrid  humor,  which 
defends  it  from  dogs,  who  can  seldom  be  induced  to  bite 
a  Toad  a  second  time. 

The  Toad  is  easily  tamed.  I  have  known  one  that  lived 
in  the  family  for  several  years,  and  was  accustomed  to  sup 
on  a  lump  of  sugar. 

The  well-known  instances  of  imprisoned  Toads  who  must 
have  spent  many  years  in  their  narrow  habitations  are 
apparently  explained  by  the  supposition  that  some  aper- 
ture or  fissure  existed,  through  which  air  and  minute  in- 
sects could  pass,  sufficient  for  their  nourishment  while  in 
a  semi-torpid  condition.  Those  experimented  on  by  Dr. 
Buckland,  and  from  whom  all  air  was  cut  off,  died  before 
a  year's  imprisonment.  The  Toad  casts  its  skin  at  certain 
times,  but  we  never  find  the  slough,  as  we  do  that  of  the 
snake,  as  the  Toad  invariably  swallows  its  former  covering. 

Our  last  example  of  this  large  and  interesting  family  is 
the  Crowned  Tapayaxin,  one  of  the  singular  North  Ameri- 
can reptiles  which  are  popularly  known  by  the  name  of 
Horned  Toads,  their  general  form  and  mode  of  sitting 
being  extremely  toad-like. 

This  animal  is  not  at  all  uncommon  in  California,  and 
is  said  when  at  liberty  in  its  wild  state  to  move  with  much 
rapidity  over  the  ground  in  search  of  its  insect  prey.  Its 
Aabits  in  confinement,  however,  do  not  carry  out  this 
statement,  as  it  is  then  sluggish  to  a  degree,  remaining  for 
many  consecutive  hours  in  precisely  the  same  attitude, 
heedless  of  the  falling  rain  or  the  burning  rays  of  the  sun, 
and  scarcely  changing  its  position  even  when  pushed  with 
the  finger.  It  is  quite  harmless,  in  spite  of  its  very  formid- 
able looks,  and  does  not  attempt  to  avenge  itself  upon  its 
captor,  however  roughly  it  may  be  handled,     After  a  while 


220  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

it  can  be  made  to  know  its  owner,  and  it  will  even  take 
flies  and  other  insects  out  of  his  hand.  Little  red  ants 
seem  to  be  its  favorite  food,  but  it  lives  on  beetles  and  in- 
sects of  various  kinds. 

I  possessed  for  some  time  one  of  these  Lizards,  which 
was  sent  by  post  from  Brazil,  and  arrived  in  very  good 
health.  It  was  kept  in  a  box  partly  rilled  with  sand,  and 
seemed  to  have  but  two  phases  of  existence — either  lying 
so  motionless  as  scarcely  to  be  distinguishable  from  the 
sand,  or  darting  about  so  quickly  that  the  eye  could  hardly 
follow  its  movements.  A  specimen  which  my  brother  had 
in  Brazil  was  quite  tame,  and  used  to  run  in  and  out  of 
the  house  as  it  liked.  It  had  a  habit  of  sitting  on  a  box, 
watching  the  floor,  and  whenever  a  fly  settled,  jumping 
down  on  it  with  unerring  certainty  of  aim. 

The  head  of  this  curious  reptile  is  armed  with  long, 
pointed,  conical  spines,  set  around  its  edge  and  directed 
backward.  Shorter  and  stouter  spines,  but  of  a  triangular 
shape,  are  scattered  over  the  back,  and  extend  even  over 
the  odd,  short  and  pointed  tail.  Each  edge  of  the  tail  is 
armed  with  a  strong  row  of  spines,  giving  it  a  regularly 
toothed  appearance.  The  general  color  of  the  Crowned 
Tapayaxin  is  gray,  variegated  with  several  irregular  bands 
of  rich  chestnut-brown.  The  head  is  light  brown,  blotched 
with  a  darker  hue,  and  the  under  parts  are  ochry  yellow, 
marked  with  sundry  blotches  of  dark  gray. 

The  Newts  are  separated  from  the  Lizards  on  account  of 
their  changes  while  young.  Like  the  Frogs,  they  are  first 
tadpoles,  and  do  not  assume  their  perfect  shape  until  six 
weeks  after  their  exclusion  from  the  eggs. 

The  Newt  is  a  beautiful  inhabitant  of  the  ponds,  ditches 
and  still  waters.  It  feeds  principally  on  tadpoles  and 
worms,  which  it  eats  with  a  peculiar  rapid  snap.  I  have 
frequently  seen  it  attack  the  smaller  Newt  with  great  per- 
severance, but  Ijiever  saw  it  kill  its  prey. 

I  kept  some  Newts  for  some  time  in  a  large  glass  vessel, 


PR0TEV3.  221 

and  noticed  that  when  a  new  inhabitant  was  added,  it  al- 
ways cast  its  skin  within  two  or  three  days.  The  skin  came 
off  in  pieces,  the  covering  of  the  feet  slipping  off  like  a 
glove,  but  I  could  never  see  how  the  creature  contrived  to 
pull  these  glove-like  relics  off. 

It  is  constantly  in  the  habit  of  rising  to  the  surface  of 
the  water  in  order  to  breathe. 

The  Newt  has  received  the  name  of  Cristatus,  or  crested, 
on  account  of  the  beautiful  crimson-tipped  wavy  crest  of 
loose  skin  that  extends  along  the  whole  course  of  the  back 
and  tail,  and  which,  together  with  the  rich  orange-colored 
belly,  makes  it  a  most  beautiful  creature.  The  female  has  a 
singular  habit  of  laying  "her  eggs  upon  long  leaves  of  water- 
plants,  and  tying  them  in  the  leaf  by  a  regular  knot. 

The  Proteus  is  an  extraordinary  animal,  which  has  been 
found  in  dark  subterranean  lakes,  many  hundred  feet  be- 
low the  surface  of  the  earth,  where  no  ray  of  light  can  pos- 
sibly enter.  The  eyes  of  this  singular  creature  are  mere 
points  covered  with  skin,  and  useless  for  vision ;  indeed, 
when  in  captivity,  it  always  chooses  the  darkest  part  of  the 
vessel  in  which  it  is  confined. 

I  have  seen  seven  specimens  of  this  strange  creature, 
which  have  lived  for  several  years  in  a  glass  vessel  covered 
with  green  baize  in  order  to  keep  them  in  the  dark.  They 
have  not  been  known  to  take  any  nourishment  whatever 
during  the  time  of  their  captivity,  except  the  very  trifling 
amount  of  nutrition  that  might  have  been  obtained  by 
changing  the  water. 

The  Proteus  breathes  in  two  ways — by  lungs  and  by 
gills ;  the  latter  organs  appearing  in  the  form  of  two  tufts, 
one  on  each  side  of  the  neck,  just  above  the  fore  limbs. 
The  circulation  of  the  blood  in  these  branchial  tufts  can 
easily  be  seen  with  a  microscope.  Exposure  to  light 
darkens  the  tints  both  of  gills  and  body.  It  has  been 
proved  to  be  a  perfect  animal,  and  has  been  found  of  all 
ekes. 


222 


NATURAL  HISTORY. 


The  blood-disks  of  this  animal  are  exceedingly  large,  so 
large,  indeed,  as  almost  to  be  distinguished  by  the  naked 
eye.  When  in  captivity,  its  movements  are  slow  and  eel- 
like, nor  does  it  seem  to  make  much  use  of  its  almost  rudi- 
mentary limbs. 


..  -^>-j. Usui's  t^&ysSp,* 


The  Proteus. 


It  has  usually  been  found  on  the  soft  mud  of  a  small 
lake  in  the  grotto  of  Maddalena,  at  Adelsburg ;  they  have 
also  been  found  at  Sittich,  thirty  miles  distant,  thrown  up 
from  a  subterranean  cavity. 


6  yd 


INSECTS. 

The  Tiger-beetle. — The  body  of  an  insect  is  divided 
or  cut  into  three  parts,  called  the  head,  the  thorax,  and  the 
abdomen.    The  body  is  defended  by  a  horny  integument, 


Tiger-Beetles. 

divided  into  rings,  and  divided  by  a  softer  membrane. 
The  legs  are  six  in  number.  Many  insects  possess  wings, 
and  in  all  the  rudiments  of  those  organs  are  perceptible. 
The  eyes  are  compound,  that  is,  a  number  of  eyes  are 
massed  together  at  each  side  of  the  head  ;  and  so  numer- 
ous are  they  that  in  the  compound  eye  of  the  Ant  are  fifty 

(223> 


224  NATURAL  EISTOEY. 

lenses,  in  the  House-fly  8,000,  in  the  Butterfly  17,000,  and 
in  the  Hawk-moth  20,000. 

The  insects  pass  through  three  transformations  before 
they  attain  their  perfect  form.  The  first  state  is  called 
the  larva,  because  the  future  insect  is  masked  under  that 
form ;  the  second  is  called  the  pupa,  on  account  of  the 
shape  often  assumed;  and  the  third  is  called  imago,  as 
being  the  image  of  the  perfect  creature.  Insects  breathe 
by  means  of  air-tubes  which  penetrate  to  every  part  of  the 
body,  even  to  the  extremities  of  the  limbs,  antennae  and 
wings.  The  air  gains  access  to  the  tubes  by  means  of 
small  apertures  called  spiracles.  The  tubes  are  prevented 
from  collapsing  by  a  delicate  thread  wound  spirally  be- 
tween the  two  membranes  of  which  the  tubes  are  com- 
posed. This  wonderful  and  beautiful  arrangement  no\ 
only  prevents  the  tubes  from  collapsing,  but  keeps  them 
flexible.  There  are,  according  to  Stephens,  fourteen  orders 
of  insects.  Examples  will  be  given  of  each  and  their  names 
explained.     The  most  perfect  insects  are  placed  first. 

There  are  two  great  divisions  of  insects,  namely,  those 
which  bite  and  eat  solid  food  with  jaws,  a's  the  Beetles, 
Locusts,  Bees,  etc.,  and  those  which  suck  liquid  food 
through  a  proboscis,  as  the  Butterflies,  Flies,  etc.  The  first 
order  of  insects  derives  its  name  from  the  sheath  or  cover- 
ing with  which  the  wings  are  defended.  This  is  a  very 
extensive  order.  The  first  in  order  are  the  Tiger-beetles, 
so  called  from  their  activity  and  voracity.  The  most  com- 
mon of  these  is  the  ordinary  Green  Tiger-beetle  that  may 
be  seen  any  hot  summer's  day  glancing  in  the  sun  on 
sandy  banks.  The  beauty  of  this  insect  is  beyond  de- 
scription. The  upper  surface  of  the  body  is  a  deep,  dead 
green,  changing  under  the  microscope  to  a  glossy  gold, 
shot  with  red  and  green ;  the  surface  of  the  abdomen  cov- 
ered by  the  wings  and  the  entire  under  surface  of  the  body 
are  brilliant  emerald  green,  and  when  the  insect  is  on  the 
wing  it  sparkles  in  the  sun  like  a  flying  gem.     When 


COCECIIAFFER.  225 

handled  it  gives  forth  a  scent  closely  resembling  that  of 
the  verbena.  It  is  indeed  as  beautiful  among  insects  as 
the  tiger  is  among  beasts,  and  is  perhaps  the  more  fero- 
cious of  the  two.  It  runs  and  flies  with  great  activity, 
and  takes  to  its  wings  as  easily  as  a  bee  or  fly,  and  is,  in 
consequence,  difficult  to  capture  without  a  net.  Its  jaws 
are  long,  sharp,  curved  like  a  sickle,  and  armed  with  sev- 
eral teeth.  Its  eyes  are  large  and  prominent,  enabling  it 
to  see  on  all  sides.  Its  length  is  rather  more  than  hali 
an  inch. 

The  Ground-beetle  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  beau- 
tiful beetles.  Its  general  color  is  a  coppery-green,  and  its 
wing-cases  are  ornamented  with  several  rows  of  oblong 
raised  spots.     Its  length  is  about  an  inch. 

The  Lamellicorn  Beetles  are  exceedingly  useful  to 
mankind.  Many  of  them  act  as  scavengers  and  farmers, 
for  they  not  only  remove  putrefying  substances  from  the 
surface  of  the  ground,  but  bury  them  beneath. 

The  Dor-Beetle  is  a  very  common  insect.  At  the  ap- 
proach of  evening  it  may  be  seen  whirling  around  in  the 
air  with  a  dull,  humming  sound.  The  country  children 
call  it  the  Watchman,  comparing  it  to  the  watchman  going 
his  rounds  in  the  evening.  It  usually  lays  its  eggs  on  a 
rounded  mass  of  cow-dung,  and  then  buries  the  whole 
mass  in  the  ground.  When  caught,  it  pretends  to  be 
dead. 

The  Stag-beetle  is  the  largest  of  insects.  Although  so 
formidably  armed  it  is  quite  harmless,  and  only  uses  its 
enormous  jaws  to  break  the  tender  bark  of  trees  in  order 
that  the  sap  on  which  it  feeds  may  exude.  The  mouth 
of  this  beetle  is  very  small,  and  is  furnished  with  a  brush, 
with  which  it  licks  up  the  food.  Several  of  these  beetles 
lived  for  some  months  on  moist  sugar.  During  the  winter 
it  hides  in  the  earth,  making  for  itself  a  kind  of  cave,  very 
smooth  inside.     This  beetle  is  common  in  Germany. 

The  Cockchaffkr  needs  little  description.     Its  larva 


226 


NATURAL  HISTORY, 


works  great  mischief  during  the  spring,  as  it  feeds  on  the 
roots  of  plants,  and  cuts  them  off  with  its  sharp,  sickle- 
like jaws.  Where  many  of  these  "  grubs  "  have  been,  the 
grass  curls  up,  and  dries  like  hay.  Fortunately  the 
thrushes,  blackbirds,  rooks,  and  many  other  birds,  are  in- 
veterate destroyers  of  the  grubs,  and  devour  myriads  of 
them.  It  is  for  this  purpose  that  these  birds  pull  up  the 
grass,  and  not  to  spoil  or  devour  the  herbage,  as  is  gener- 
ally supposed. 


COCKC  HAFFER — STAG-BEETLE. 


The  huge  Hercules  and  Atlas  Beetles,  and,  larger  still, 
the  Goliath  Beetle,  belong  to  the  Lamellicorns. 

The  Glowworm  may  be  seen  in  the  warm  summer  even- 
ings, shedding  its  pale-green  light  on  the  grassy  banks. 
The  female  insect  gives  out  a  much  stronger  light  than  the 
male,  and  there  is  some  light  visible  even  in  the  larva. 
The  light  of  this  insect  proceeds  from  the  abdomen.  The 
light,  given  out  by  the  Firefly,  another  kind  of  beetle  in- 
habiting South  America,  proceeds  from  three  yellow  tuber- 
cles placed  on  the  throat.  The  grub  or  larva  of  the  Glow- 
worm is  of  a  singular  form,  and  is  furnished  with  a  brush 
at  the  extremity  of  the  tail,  with  which  it  cleanses  its  body 


ROVE-BEETLES. 


227 


from  dust  or  the  slime  of  the  snails  on  which  it  frequently 
feeds. 

The  Musk-beetles  vary  considerably  in  size,  some  being 
several  inches  in 
length,  while  some  are 
hardly  one-quarter  of 
an  inch  long.  The  ex- 
treme length  of  their 
antennae  is  the  most 
conspicuous  property, 
and  from  that  peculi- 
arity they  are  at  once 
recognized. 

It  is  a  large  insect, 
and  is  usually  found 
in  old  willow-trees. 
Its  peculiar  scent, 
something  resembling 
that  of  roses,  often  be- 
trays its  presence 
when  its  green  color 
would  have  kept  it 
concealed.  When 

touched  it  emits  a 
curious  sound,  not 
unlike  that  of  the  bat, 
but  more  resembling 
the  faint  scratching 
of  a  slate-pencil.  Its 
larva  bores  deep  holes 
in  the  trees,  which 
are  often  quite  honey- 
corned  by  them. 

The  Rove-beetles  form  an  extensive  section.  Some  are 
so  small  as  to  require  the  assistance  of  the  microscope  to 
discover  their  shape,,  and  others  are  more  than  an  iDch  in 


Musk-Beetle. 


228 


NATURAL  HISTORY 


Rove-Beetles. 

length.  The  small  species 
are  usually  on  the  wing, 
and  it  is  very  amusing  to 
see  them  alight,  and  with 
their  flexible  tails  tuck 
their  long  and  beautifully- 
shaped  wings  under  the 
elytra,  run  about  for  a 
moment,  and  then  again 
take  to  flight,  These  are 
the  creatures  that  cause  so 
much  annoyance  by  fly- 
ing into  one's  mouth  or 
eye  in  the  warm  and  sultry 
months. 

The  Great  Rove-beetle 
is  commonly  found  upon 
decaying  animal  sub- 
stances. It  is  most  for- 
midably armed  with  two 
large,  curved,  sharp  man- 
dibles, the  bite  of  which 
is  tolerably  severe,  and 
Colorado  Potato-Beetle  in  all  more  than  once,  when  the 
res  Stages  (Natural  Size).      creature  has  been  recently 


EARWIG. 


229 


feeding  upon  putrid  substances,  dangerous  results  have 
followed. 

Water-beetles  inhabit  the  water  and  swim  with  ac- 
tivity. They  occasionally  come  to  the  surface  for  a  fresh 
supply  of  air,  which  they  carry  down  between  the  elytra 
and  the  upper  surface  of  the  abdomen.     They  fly  very 


fe 


■'::. 


Water-Beetles. 

well,  but  the  construction  of  their  limbs  prevents  them 
from  walking.  They  cannot  be  kept  in  a  limited  space, 
as  they  are  very  fierce  and  voracious,  and  in  one  case, 
when  a  male  and  female  were  placed  in  a  jar  filled  with 
water,  only  one  day  elapsed  before  the  male  was  found 
dead  and  half  devoured  by  his  disconsolate  widow. 

The  Earwig  is  placed  in  an  order  by  itself.     The  wings 
are  large  and  beautiful^  and  the  method  of  folding  by 

1$ — Natural  History 


230 


NATURAL  HISTORY. 


which  they  are  packed  under  the  very  small  elytra  is  very 
curious.  The  use  of  the  forceps  is  for  the  purpose  of  fold- 
ing the  wings  and  placing  them  in  their  proper  position 
under  their  cases.  Its  eggs  are  hatched  and  the  young 
protected  by  the  parent. 

The  Locust.  These  pests  of  the  warmer  countries  of  the 
earth  fly  in  countless  myriads,  and  where  they  descend 
they  devour  every  particle  of  green  herbage — the  trees  are 
stripped  of  their  leaves,  the  grass  and  corn  are  eaten  to 
the  very  ground;  for  their  jaws  are  so_strong  as  to  inflict 
a  severe  wound  when  the  insect  is  incautiously  handled. 
Nor  does  the  mischief  end  with  their  life,  for  their  dead 
bodies  often  accumulate  in  such  numbers  that  the  air  is 
even  dangerously  infected.  They  infest  America,  Africa 
and  Central  Asia,  but  they  annually  make  incursions  to 
Europe,  where  the  damage  they  occasion  is  much  less 
reparable  than  in  their  native  lands;  for  there  the  power 
of  vegetation  is  so  great  that  a  few 
days  repair  the  injuries  caused  by 
them,  but  in  Europe  a  whole  year  is 
required  for  that  purpose.  Our 
Grasshoppers  belong  to  this  order. 

The  House  Cricket  delights  to  live 
in  places  that  are  always  warm,  and 
is    found     swarming    about    ovens, 
kitchen  fl^-places  and  localities  of  a 
similar   nature-     It  makes   its   resi- 
dence by  cutting  away  the  mortar 
with  its  powerful  jaws,  and  so  effect- 
ually will  it  do  so  tbaf  it  sometimes 
House  Cricket.        eats    completely   through    the   wall, 
opening     communication?    between 
two  or  more  houses.     The  manner  in  which  it  bears  heat 
is  wonderful,  as  it  will  live  within  a  few  inches  oi  9  fiew 


LEAF  INSECT. 


231 


The  heat  of  tfie  atmosphere  in  which  it  lives  renders  it 
very  liable  to  thirst,  and  it  seeks  every  opportunity  of 
quenching  its  thirst  by  gnawing  holes  in  wet  linen,  de- 
vouring any  moist  crumbs  that  may  lie  on  the  floor,  or 
boldly  climbing  the  milk-pan,  in  which  latter  case  it  gets 
a  little  too  much  liquid,  and  is  generally  "  found  drowned" 
next  morning. 

The  wings  of  this  insect,  as  well  as  those  of  the  Field 
Cricket,  are  very  beautiful,  and 
marked  with  an  elegant  pat- 
tern. The  Cricket  never  ap- 
pears to  use  them  except  at 
night,  when  it  may  be  taken 
on  the  wing. 

The  curious  insect  called  the 
Mole  Cricket  is  not  uncom- 
mon. It  inhabits  sandy  banks, 
digging  deep  holes  and  form- 
ing chambers,  in  which  its 
eggs  are  laid.  The  forelegs 
closely  resemble  those  of  the 
Mole,  and  are  used  for  the 
same  purpose. 

The  Leap  Insect  is  an  in-  FlELD  Cricket- 

habitant    of    South   America. 

It  resembles  a  leaf  in  shape  and  in  color,  and  its  legs  may 
easily  be  mistaken  for  dry  twigs.  Even  the  ramified  vein- 
ings  of  the  leaf  are  preserved  on  its  wings.  It  is  singular 
that  while  some  insects  closely  resemble  vegetables,  some 
vegetables,  as  the  Orchidacese,  should  as  closely  resemble 
insects.  Nearly  connected  with  this  insect  is  the  Praying 
Mantis,  so  called  from  the  curious  manner  in  which  it 
holds  its  forelegs.  It  is  very  voracious  and  quarrelsome, 
fighting  with  its  forelegs,  which  it  uses  like  a  sword,  Id 
China  the  inhabitants  keep  them  in  cages,  and  set  them 


232  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

to  fight  as  in  other  countries  certain  barbarians  keep  cocka 
for  the  same  purpose. 

The  Cockroach  has  suffered  under  the  hand  of  house- 
wives, who  express  their  abhorrence  of  it  under  the  name 
of  "  black  beetle."  It  is  not  black,  it  is  not  a  beetle,  and 
its  color  is  a  mahogany  red.  But,  red  or  black,  beetle  or 
not,  it  is  a  very  great  plague,  and  fully  deserves  all  the 
maledictions  heaped  upon  it. 

Its  unpleasant  character  has  caused  innumerable  plans 
to  be  laid  for  its  destruction.  Among  these,  strewing  the 
ground  with  the  peel  of  cucumber  or  with  red  wafers  is 
said  to  be  effectual  in  destroying  the  Cockroaches,  but 
perhaps  no  plan  is  so  successful  as  the  glass  pan  with 
sloping  sides,  which  lets  the  insects  fall  in  but  prevents 
their  escape  altogether. 

The  eggs  of  the  Cockroach  are  deposited,  indeed,  in  little 
cases  or  purses,  something  like  those  of  the  shark,  but  with- 
out the  strings.  Down  one  side  a  thick-toothed  ridge  runs, 
and  by  this  ridge  the  young  escape  when  hatched. 

The  male  Cockroach  is  furnished  with  very  handsome 
wings,  while  the  female  is  entirely  destitute  of  these  organs, 
and  only  possesses  four  little  scales  to  mark  their  position. 

The  Common  May-fly  is  so  well-known  an  insect  that 
it  needs  no  long  description.  It  is  the  fly  so  familiar  to 
anglers  under  the  name  of  the  "  Drake."  It  is  to  be  found 
in  swarms  in  the  beginning  of  June,  rising  and  falling  in 
the  air  in  its  peculiarly  undulating  manner. 

The  May-fly  spends  the  first  portion  of  its  existence  in 
the  water  under  the  shape  of  a  longish  grub,  with  leaf- 
like  appendages  to  its  tail.  About  May  the  grubs  may 
be  seen  to  leave  the  water  and  to  crawl  up  the  banks  01 
climb  the  stems  of  aquatic  plants.  The  skin  then  splits, 
and  the  May-fly  creeps  out.  But  it  cannot  immediately 
fly,  as  its  wings  are  soft  and  like  two  split  peas.     A  short 


X>RAGON-FLIES, 


233 


interval  cf  exercise  in  the  open  air  soon  loosens  them,  and 
they  are  gradually  shaken  out  until  they  have  attained 
their  full  size,  when  the 
msect  flies  off.  There  is, 
however,  another  change 
yet.  In  a  short  time  the 
insect  again  settles,  and 
sheds  the  entire  skin  a 
second  time,  even  includ- 
ing the  covering  of  the 
wings.  These  cast  skins 
are  often  found  sticking 
on  the  bark  of  willow- 
trees  by  the  side  of 
waters,  and  are  mis- 
taken for  dead  May-flies. 

Well  do  the  Dragon- 
flies  deserve  their  name. 
Fierce,  voracious,  active 
and  powerful,  they  are  a 
scourge  to  the  insects. 
They  are  on  the  wing 
nearly  the  whole  day, 
seizing  and  devouring  flies,  spiders,  and  various  insects; 
nor  can  even  the  broad-winged  butterfly  escape  them,  So 
voracious  are  they  that  when  held  in  the  hand  they  will 
devour  flies,  etc.,  if  held  within  their  reach,  and  they  have 
even  been  known,  when  their  bodies  have  been  severed  in 
two,  to  eat  flies,  although  they  had  no  stomach  to  put  them 
in.  I  once  caught  a  Dragon-fly  in  my  net,  and  while  hold- 
ing it  by  the  wings  I  presented  to  it  no  less  than  thirty- 
seven  large  flies  in  rapid  succession,  all  of  which  it  de- 
voured, together  with  four  long-legged  spiders.  It  would 
probably  have  eaten  as  many  more,  had  I  not  been  tired 
of  catching  flies  for  it. 

The  larva  of  the  Dragon-fly  inhabits  the  water,  and  is 


May-Fly. 


234 


NATURAL  HISTORY. 


quite  as  voracious  as  in  its  perfect  state.  Affixed  to  its 
head  is  a  curious  set  of  organs,  called  the  mask,  which  it 
can  extend,  and  use  for  the  purpose  of  seizing  its  prey 
and  holding  it  to  its  month. 

The  Ant- Lion,  in  its  perfect  form,  although  it  is  very  ele- 
gant, exhibits  no  peculiarity  worthy  of  notice,  but  in  its 


Ant-Lion. 


larva  state  its  habits  are  so  extraordinary  as  to  have  ex- 
cited general  attention.  As  it  is  slow  and  awkward  in  its 
movements,  it  has  recourse  to  stratagem  for  capturing  the 
agile  insects  on  which  it  feeds.     Choosing  a  light,  sand} 


TERMITES.  235 

soil,  it  digs  for  itself  a  conical  pit,  at  the  bottom  of  which 
it  conceals  itself,  leaving  only  its  jaws  exposed.  When  an 
unwary  insect  approaches  too  near  the  edge  of  the  pit  the 
eand  gives  way,  and  down  rolls  the  insect  into  the  very 
teeth  of  the  concealed  Ant-Lion,  who  instantly  pierces  its 
prey  with  its  calliper-shaped  fangs  and  sucks  out  its  juices 
through  the  jaws,  which  are  hollow.  Should,  however, 
the  Ant-Lion  miss  its  prey,  and  the  insect  endeavor  to 
escape,  its  captor  instantly  makes  such  a  turmoil  by  toss- 
ing up  the  sand  with  its  closed  jaws  and  covering  each 
side  of  the  pit  with  the  moving  grains  that  the  insect  is 
tolerably  certain  to  be  brought  down  to  the  bottom,  and 
is  seized  by  the  Ant-Lion,  who  immediately  drags  it  below 
the  sand.  When  the  insect  is  very  strong,  and  struggles 
hard  to  escape,  the  Ant-Lion  shakes  it  about  as  a  dog  does 
a  rat,  and  beats  it  against  the  ground  until  it  is  disabled. 

The  Termites  or  White  Ants,  as  they  are  very  errone- 
ously called,  are  not  ants  at  all.  These  insects  live  in 
large  societies  and  build  edifices,  sometimes  of  enormous 
size,  and  almost  as  hard  as  stone.  Twelve  feet  in  height 
is  quite  common,  so  that  were  we  to  compare  our  works 
with  theirs,  the  Capitol  at  Washington  falls  infinitely  short 
of  the  edifices  constructed  by  these  little  creatures.  The 
common  Termite  inhabits  Africa.  Not  only  does  it  build 
these  houses,  but  runs  galleries  underground,  as,  curiously 
enough,  though  blind,  it  works  either  at  night  or  in  dark- 
ness. In  each  house  or  community  there  are  five  different 
kinds  of  Termites: — 1,  the  single  male,  or  king,  whose  life 
is  very  short;  2,  the  single  female,  or  queen.  These  are 
the  perfect  insects,  and  have  had  wings,  but  have  lost  them 
soon  after  their  admission  into  their  cell ;  they  also  have 
eyes;  3,  the  soldiers  or  fighting  men:  these  possess  large 
jaws,  do  no  work,  but  repel  adversaries  and  watch  as  sen- 
tinels ;  4,  the  pupae,  who  resemble  the  workers,  except  that 
they  possess  the  rudiments  of  wings ;  and,  5,  the  larvas,  or 


236  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

workers.  These  do  all  the  work,  i.  e.,  they  collect  food,  at« 
tend  to  the  queen,  and  watch  over  the  eggs  and  young,  and 
build  and  repair  their  castle.  These  are  more  numerous 
than  all  the  other  kinds. 

On  the  approach  of  the  rainy  season  the  pupse  obtain 
wings  and  issue  forth  in  swarms.  Few,  however,  survive. 
Myriads  are  devoured  by  birds,  reptiles,  and  even  by  man, 
and  many  are  carried  out  to  sea  and  perish  there.  Those 
that  do  escape  are  speedily  found  by  the  laborers,  who 
inclose  a  pair  in  a  cell,  from  which  they  never  emerge. 
The  male  soon  dies,  but  the  female,  after  rapidly  increas- 
ing to  nearly  three  inches  in  length  and  one  in  breadth, 
continues  to  lay  eggs  unceasingly  for  a  very  long  time. 
This  cell  becomes  the  nucleus  of  the  hive,  and  around  it  all 
other  cells  and  galleries  are  built. 

These  insects  are  terribly  destructive,  as  they  eat  through 
wooden  beams,  furniture,  etc.,  leaving  only  a  thin  shell, 
which  is  broken  down  with  the  least  extra  weight ;  and 
many  are  the  occasions  when  an  unsuspecting  individual, 
on  seating  himself  on  an  apparently  sound  sofa  or  chair, 
finds  himself,  like  Belzoni  in  the  pyramid,  reposing  among 
a  heap  of  dust  and  splinters. 

Mr.  Cumming  describes  the  habitations  of  the  White 
Ant  in  these  terms  : — 

"  Throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  plains  frequented 
by  blesboks,  numbers  of  the  sun-baked  hills  or  mounds  of 
clay  formed  by  white  ants  occur.  The  average  height  of 
the  ant-hills  in  these  districts  is  from  two  to  three  feet. 
They  are  generally  distant  from  one  another  from  one  to 
three  hundred  yards,  being  more  or  less  thickly  placed  in 
different  parts.  These  ant-hills  are  of  the  greatest  service 
to  the  hunter,  enabling  him  with  facility  to  conceal  him- 
self on  the  otherwise  open  plain." 

i 

The  Caddis-fly  is  well-known  to  every  angler,  both  in 
its  larva  and  in  its  perfect  state.    The  larva  is  a  soft  white 


\r?l 


Termites  :  An  Ant  Hill. 


(237) 


238 


NA  TUBA  L  IIIKTOR F. 


worm,  of  which  fishes  are  exceedingly  fond,  and  it  there- 
fore requires  some  means  of  defence.  It  accordingly  actu- 
ally makes  for  itself  a  movable  house  of  sand,  small  stones, 

straws,  bits  of 
shells,  or  even 
small  living  shells, 
in  which  it  lives  in 
perfect  security, 
and  crawls  about 
in  search  of  food, 
dragging  its  house 
after  it.  When  it 
is  about  to  become 
a  pupa  it  spins  a 
strong  silk  grating 
over  the  entrance 
of  its  case,  so  that 
the  water  neces- 
sary for  its  respi- 
ration can  pass 
through,  but  at 
the  same  time  all 
enemies  are  kept 
out.  When  the  time  for  its  change  has  arrived  the  pupa 
bites  through  the  grating,  rises  to  the  surface,  and  crawls 
out  of  reach  of  the  water  which  would  soon  be  fatal  to  it. 
The  skin  then  splits  down  its  back  and  the  perfect  insect 
.emerges. 

The  Ichneumon-fly. — We  have  now  reached  a  most 
Important  and  interesting  order.  In  it  are  contained  the 
Bees,  Wasps,  Ants,  etc.  This  is  the  only  order  where  the 
,  insects  possess  stings.  The  wings  are  four  in  number,  with 
certain  veinings  upon  them,  the  shape  and  number  of 
which  in  many  cases  distinguish  the  species. 

The  Ichneumons  form  a  very  large  section.     They  are 


jg^pgagypga^^agg^^^ 


Caddis-Fly, 


WOOD  AN2.  239 

mos\;  oseful  to  mankind,  as  one  Ichneumon  will  destroy 
more  caterpillars  than  a  man  could  kill  in  his  lifetime. 
They  do  not,  as  most  other  insects,  deposit  their  eggs  upon 
vegetable  or  dead  animal  substances,  but  they  actually 
bore  holes  in  other  insects,  while  they  are  still  in  the  larva 
state,  and  leave  the  eggs  to  hatch  in  their  living  receptacle. 
The  most  common  Ichneumon  is  a  very  small  insect,  noi 
so  large  as  an  ordinary  gnat.  This  little  creature  may  be 
seen  searching  for  caterpillars.  It  generally  selects  the 
common  cabbage  caterpillar,  and,  sitting  upon  it,  pierces 
with  its  sting  the  skin  of  the  caterpillar,  and  deposits  an 
egg.  After  repeating  this  operation  many  times  it  flies  off, 
and  the  caterpillar  proceeds  as  before  in  the  great  business 
of  its  life,  that  is,  eating,  and  continues  in  apparently  per- 
fect health  until  the  time  for  its  change  into  the  chrysalis 
state  occurs.  The  good  condition  of  it,  however,  is  merely 
deceptive,  for  the  offspring  of  the  little  Ichneumon  have 
all  this  while  been  silently  increasing  in  size,  and  feeding 
on  the  fat,  etc.,  of  the  caterpillar,  but  cautiously  avoiding 
any  vital  part,  so  that  the  plump  appearance  of  the  cater- 
pillar is  merely  produced  by  the  young  Ichneumons  lying 
snugly  under  the  skin.  Just  as  the  caterpillar  commences 
its  change,  out  come  all  the  Ichneumons,  looking  like  little 
white  maggots,  and  immediately  each  spins  for  itself  a  yel- 
low oval  case,  frequently  enveloping  the  form  of  the  now 
emaciated  caterpillar.  In  a  few  days  a  little  lid  on  the 
top  of  each  case  opens,  and  the  perfect  flies  issue  forth,  ana 
immediately  commence  their  own  work  of  destruction. 

I  have  examined  hundreds  of  caterpillars  in  the  course 
of  dissection,  and  have  seldom  found  them  free  from  Ich- 
neumons. I  took  out  of  one  small  goat  caterpillar  137  of 
these  insidious  destroyers.  I  found  them  useful  auxil- 
iaries in  dissection,  as  they  had  usually  consumed  all  the 
fat,  leaving  the  important  organs  ready  cleared. 

The  Wood  Ant  is  found   principally  in  woods,   and 


240 


NATURAL  HISTORY. 


builds  a  nest  of  sand  and  earth,  intermixed  with  bits  of 
sticks,  leaves,  etc.  The  interior  of  this  hill  is  cham- 
bered out  into  a  variety  of  apartments,  and  is  traversed 
by  passages.  The  so-called  ants'  eggs  are  not  eggs  at  all, 
hut  the  pupa  cases  of  the  insect,  and  if  opened,  the  per- 
fect insect  is  seen  curled  up  inside.  In  the  autumn  the 
Ants  burst  forth  by  thousands,  and  may  be  seen  hover- 
ing in  clouds  above  the  nest.  Their  beautiful  wings  do 
not  last  long,  for  when  a  female  Ant  escapes,  and  founds 
an  infant  colony,  her  wings  are  soon  lost,  just  as  a  highly- 
accomplished  young  lady  gives  up  her  velvet  painting  and 
cross-stitchery  when  she  marries  and  has  a  large  family. 
Few  do  escape,  as  the  birds  find  these  living  clouds  a  most 
agreeable  and  plentiful  repast. 

Ants  do  not,  as  has  been  so  frequently  said,  lay  up  stores 
of  corn  for  the  winter,  for  they  are  in  a  state  of  torpidity 
during  the  cold  months,  and  require  no  food.     Moreover, 

an  Ant  would  find  as  much 
difficulty  in  eating  or  digest- 
ing a  grain  of  corn  as  we  would 
in  devouring  a  truss  of  straw. 
In  each  nest  are  three  kinds 
of  Ants — males,  females  and 
neuters,  or  workers. 


^~%&\b/l\^S^X 


^m 


Let  us  honor  the  Wasps  as 
the  first  papermakers,  for  of 
that  material  is  the  nest  com- 

^S^S^RIIT  Posed-  The  PaPer  is  rough 
*  and  coarse,  certainly,  but  it  is 
still  paper.  The  Wasp,  in 
order  to  make  this  paper, 
rasps  off  fibers  of  decayed  wood,  which  it  afterwards 
mashes  with  its  teeth  into  a  pulp,  and  then  spreads  the 
pulp  in  layers,  when  it  ultimately  hardens  and  forms 
coarse  paper. 


Wasp. 


BEE. 


241 


Hornet. 


The  dreaded  Hornet  is  usually  found  in  woods,  where 
it  builds  its  nest  in  the  hollows  of  trees.  A  deserted  hut 
is  a  favorite  spot,  and 
when  occupied  by  a 
full  nest  of  hornets 
is  not  particularly 
safe  to  enter,  as  the 
sting  of  this  insect  is 
peculiarly  severe. 

It  feeds  upon  other 
insects,  and  even  at- 
tacks and  devours  the 
formidable  wasp. 

The  Common  Wasp 
builds  its  nest  in  the 
ground,  usually  in 
banks.  The  comb  is 
laid  horizontally  ,and 

not  vertically  like  those  of  the  bee.  As  the  cells  are  made 
of  paper,  they  will  not  hold  honey,  nor  does  the  Wasp  en- 
deavor to  collect  honey,  although  it  is  very  fond  of  it,  and 
never  loses  an  opportunity  of  robbing  a  bee-hive,  although 
its  natural  food  is  flies  or  other  animal  substances.  Nor 
does  it  despise  sugar,  as  every  grocer's  window  testifies. 
Very  few  Wasps  survive  the  winter,  and  those  that  do  im- 
mediately set  about  forming  a  new  nest.  Only  a  few  cells 
are  made  at  first,  but  the  number  rapidly  increases,  until 
the  nest  is  furnished  with  about  sixteen  thousand  cells. 

Some  Wasps  build  nests  upon  the  branches  of  trees,  and 
others  suspend  them  from  the  branches. 

The  Bee  is  so  well  known  that  a  lengthened  description 
of  it  would  be  useless.  A  merely  general  sketch  will  be 
quite  sufficient. 

The  cells  of  the  Bee  are,  as  is  well  known,  made  of  wax. 
This  wax  is  secreted  in  the  form  of  scales  under  six  little 


242 


NATURAL  HISTORY. 


daps  situated  on  the  under  side  of  the  insect.  It  is  then 
pulled  out  by  the  Bee,  and  molded  with  other  scales  until 
a  tenacious  piece  of  wax  is  formed.  The  yellow  substance 
on  the  legs  of  the  Bees  is  the  pollen  of  flowers.  This  is 
kneaded  up  by  the  Bees,  and  is  called  bee-bread. 

The  cells  are  six-sided,  a  form  which  gives  the  greatest 
space  and  strength  with  the  least  amount  of  material,  but 
the  method  employed  by  the  Bees 
to  give  the  cells  that  shape  is  not 
kn^wn.  The  cells  in  which  the 
drone  or  male  Bees  are  hatched  are 
much  larger  than  those  of  the  ordi- 
nary or  worker  Bee.  The  edges  of 
the  cells  are  strengthened  with  a 
substance  called  propolis,  which  is 
a  gummy  material  procured  from 
the  buds  of  various  trees.  This 
propolis  is  also  used  to  stop  up 
crevices  and  to  mix  with  wax  when 
the  comb  has  to  be  strengthened. 

The  royal  cells  are  much  larger 
than  any  others,  and  are  of  an  oval 
shape.  When  a  worker  larva  is 
placed  in  a  royal  cell,  and  fed  in  a 
royal  manner,  it  imbibes  the  prin- 
ciples of  royalty  and  becomes  a  queen  accordingly.  This 
practice  is  adopted  if  the  queen  bee  should  die  and  there 
oe  no  other  queen  to  take  her  place. 

The  queen  Bee  is  lady  paramount  in  her  own  hive,  and 
suffers  no  other  queen  to  divide  rule  with  her.  Should  a 
strange  queen  gain  admittance  there  is  a  battle  at  once, 
which  ceases  not  until  one  has  been  destroyed. 

At  the  swarm ing-time  the  old  queen  is  sadly  put  out  by 
the  encroachments  of  various  young  queens,  who  each 
wish  for  the  throne,  and  at  last  is  so  agitated  that  she 
rushes  out  of  the  hive,  attended  by  a  large  body  of  sub- 


1,  Male  ;  2,  Female  ; 
3,  Deoxe. 


mm 

•iil 


v/fmmm   ■ 


244  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

jects,  and  thus  the  first  swarm  is  formed.  In  seven  ol 
eight  da}7s  the  queen  next  in  age  also  departs,  taking  with 
her  another  supply  of  subjects.  When  all  the  swarms 
have  left  the  original  hive,  the  remaining  queens  fight  un- 
til one  gains  the  throne. 

The  old  method  of  destroying  Bees  for  tli3  sake  of  the 
honey  was  not  only  cruel  but  wasteful,  as  by  burning  some 
dry  "  puff-ball  "  the  Bees  are  stupefied,  and-shortly  return 
to  consciousness.  The  employment  of  a  "  cap  "  on  the 
hive  is  an  excellent  plan,  as  the  Bees  deposit  honey  alone 
in  these  caps,  without  any  admixture  of  grubs  or  bee- 
bread.  Extra  hives  at  the  side,  with  a  communication 
from  the  original  hive,  are  also  useful. 

The  queen  Bee  laj^s  about  18,000  eggs.  Of  these  about 
800  are  males  or  drones,  and  four  or  five  queens,  the  re- 
mainder being  workers. 

Butterflies  are  usually  lighter  in  the  body  than  Moths, 
from  which  insects  they  are  easily  distinguished  by  the 
shape  of  the  antennae,  which  in  the  Butterflies  are  slender 
and  terminate  in  a  small  knob,  but  in  the  Moths  terminate 
in  a  point,  and  are  often  beautifully  fringed. 

The  Swallow-tailed  Butterfly  flies  with  exceeding 
rapidity,  nearly  in  a  straight  line,  and  is  very  difficult  to 
capture. 

The  color  of  the  wings  is  black,  variegated  most  beauti- 
fully with  yellow  markings,  and  near  the  extremity  of 
each  hinder  wing  is  a  circular  red  spot,  surmounted  by  a 
crescent  of  blue,  and  the  whole  surrounded  by  a  black  ring. 

The  Red  Admiral  is  one  of  the  most  gorgeous  of  But- 
terflies. The  color  of  the  wings  is  a  deep  black*  relieved 
by  a  broad  band  of  scarlet  across  each,  and  a  series  of 
semicircular  blue  marks  edge  each  wing.  It  is  usually 
found  in  woods  and  lanes,  where  there  are  nettles,  as  the 
larva  feeds  upon  that  plant.  It  appears  about  the  middle 
of  August. 


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WOOD'S  NATURAL  HISTORY.     SO  illustrations. 

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GRANDFATHER'S  CHAIR.    By  Nathaniel  Hawthorne.     68  il- 
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MILITARY  HEROES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.    60  illustra- 
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LIVES  OF   THE   PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED   STATES. 
With  portraits  and  illustrations. 

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Caps  and  Capers.     By  Gabrielle  E.  Jackson. 
Doughnuts  and  Diplomas.     By  Gabrielle  E.  Jackson. 
For  Prey  and  Spoils.     By  Frederick  A.  Ober. 
Tommy  Foster's  Adventures.     By  Frederick  A.  Ober. 
Tales  from  Shakespeare.     By  Charles  and  Mary  Lamb. 
A  Little  Bough  Eider.     By  Tudor  Jenks. 
Another  Year  with  Denise  and  Ned  Toodles.     By  Gabrielle 

E.    Jackson. 
Poor  Boys'  Chances.     By  John  Habberton. 
Sea  Kings  and  Naval  Heroes.     By  Hartwell  James. 
Polly  Perkins's  Adventures.     By  E.  Louise  LiddelL 
Folly  in  Fairyland.     By  Carolyn  Wells. 
Folly  in  the  Forest.     By  Carolyn  Wells. 
The  Boy  Geologist.     By  Prof.  E.  J.  Houston. 
Helen's  Babies.     By  John  Habberton. 


HENEY  ALTEMUS  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS.       f 

Altemus'   Illustrated 

Wee  Books  for  Wee  Folks 

Filled  with  charming  stories,  beautifully  illustrated  with  pic- 
tures in  colors  and  black  and  white.  Daintily,  yet  durably 
bound.     Price,  50  cents  each. 

Nursery  Tales. — Nursery  Ehymes. — The  Story  op  Peter  Rab- 
bit.— The  Foolish  Fox. — Three  Littlb  Pigs. — The  Eobber 
Kitten. 

Children's  Gift  Series 

A  new  series  of  the  most  famous  children's  classics,  in  new 
and  attractive  bindings  with  full  page  illustrations  in  color 
and  black  and  white.     Cloth,  4to,  75  cents  each. 

Alice's  Adventures  in  Wonderland. — Through  the  Looking 
Glass  and  What  Alice  Found  There. — A  Child's  Garden 
op  Verses. — Mother  Goose's  Ehymes,  Jingles  and  Fairy 
Tales. — Swiss  Family  Eobinson. — The  Adventures  op 
Eobinson  Crusoe. — Grimm's  Fairy  Tales. — Andersen's 
Fairy  Tales. — Bible  Pictures  and  Stories. — Animal  Sto- 
ries for  Little  People. 


One-Syllable  Series 

For  Young  Readers 

Embracing  popular  works  arranged  for  the  young  folks  in 
words  of  one  syllable.  With  numerous  illustrations  by 
the  best  artists.  Handsomely  bound,  with  illuminated 
covers.     Price,  50  cents  each. 

JEsop's  Fables. — A  Child's  Life  op  Christ. — The  Adventures 
of  Eobinson  Crusoe. — Bunyan's  Pilgrim's  Progress. — 
Swiss  Family  Eobinson. — Gulliver's  Travels. — A  Child's 
Story  of  the  Old  Testament. — A  Child's  Story  op  the 
New  Testament. — Bible  Stories  for  Little  Children.— 
The  Story  of  Jesus. 


8         HENEY  ALTEMUS  COMPANY'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

Altemus'  Illustrated 

Dainty  Series  of  Choice  Gift  Books 

Bound  in  half -white  vellum,  illuminated  sides,  unique  designs 
in  gold  and  colors,  with  numerous  half-tone  illustrations. 
Price,  50  cents  each. 

The  Silver  Buckle.    By  M.  Nataline  Crumpton 

Charles  Dickers  '  Children  Stories. 

The  Children's  Shakespeare. 

Young  Bobin  Hood.     By  G.  Manville  Fenn. 

Honor  Bright.    By  Mary  C.  Eowsell. 

The  Voyage  of  the  Mart  Adair.     By  Frances  E.  Crompton. 

The  Kingfisher's  Egg.     By  L.  T.  Meade. 

Tattine.     By  Buth  Ogden. 

The  Doings   of  a  Dear  Little   Couple.     By  Mary  D.   Brine. 

Our  Soldier  Boy.     By  G.  Manville  Fenn. 

The  Little  Skipper.    By  G.  Manville  Fenn. 

Little  Gervaise  and  Other  Stories. 

The  Christmas  Fairy.     By  John  Strange  Winter. 

Molly  the  Drummer  Boy.    By  Harriet  T.  Comstock. 

How  a  "Dear  Little  Couple"  Went  Abroad.    By  Mary  D. 

Brine. 
The  Eose-Carnation.    By  Frances  E.  Crompton. 
Mother's  Little  Man.    By  Mary  D.  Brine. 
Little  Swan  Maidens.     By  Frances  E.  Crompton. 
Little  Lady  Val.    By  Evelyn  Everett  Green. 
A  Young  Hero.     By  G.  Manville  Fenn. 
Queen  of  the  Day.     By  L.  T.  Meade. 
That  Little  French  Baby.     By  John  Strange  Winter. 
The  Powder  Monkey.    By  G.  Manville  Fenn. 
The  Doll  that  Talked.     By  Tudor  Jenks. 
What  Charlie  Found  to  Do.    By  Amanda  M.  Douglas. 


HENEY  ALTEMUS  COMr^NY'S  PUBLICATIONS.    9 

Altemus' 

Young  Folks  Puzzle  Pictures'  Series 

A  new- series  for  young  people,  including  numerous  Puzzle 
Pictures  by  the  best  artists.  Full  cloth,  illuminated  cover 
design.     Price,  50  cents  each. 

Mother  Goose's  Puzzle  Pictures. 

The  Tale  of  Peter  Eabbit,  with  Puzzle  Pictures. 

Animal  Tales,  with  Puzzle  Pictures. 

The  Night  Before  Christmas,  with  Puzzle  Pictures. 

Dog  Tales,  Cat  Tales  and  Other  Tales,  with  Puzzle  Pictures. 


Altemus'  Illustrated 

Mother  Stories  Series 

An  entirely  new  series,  including  the  best  stories  that  mothers 
can  tell  their  children.  Handsomely  printed  and  profusely 
illustrated.     Ornamental  cloth.     Price,  50  cents  each. 

Mother  Stories.     S9  illustrations. 

Mother  Nursery  Ehymes  and  Tales.     135  illustrations. 

Mother  Fairy  Tales.     117  illustrations. 

Mother  Nature   Stories.     97  illustrations. 

Mother  Stories  from  the  Old  Testament.    45  illustrations. 

Mother  Stories  from  the  New  Testament.     45  illustrations. 

Mother  Bedtime  Stories.     86  illustrations. 

Mother  Animal  Stories.    92  illustrations. 

Mother  Bird  Stories.     131  illustrations. 

Mother  Santa  Claus  Stories.    91  illustrations. 


The   Motor    Boat    Club    Series 

By  H.  IRVING  HANCOCK 

The  keynote  of  these  books  is  manliness.  The  stories  are  wonder- 
fully entertaining,  and  they  are  at  the  same  time  sound  and  whole- 
some. No  boy  will  willingly  lay  down  an  unfinished  book  in  this 
series. 

1  THE  MOTOR  BOAT  CLUB  OF  THE  KENNEBEC;    Or,  The 

Secret  of  Smugglers'  Island. 

2  THE  MOTOR  BOAT  CLUB  AT  NANTUCKET;    Or,  The  Mys- 

tery of  the  Dunstan  Heir. 

3  THE  MOTOR  BOAT  CLUB  OFF  LONG  ISLAND;    Or,  A  Dar- 

ing Marine  Game  at  Racing  Speed. 

4  THE  MOTOR  BOAT  CLUB  AND  THE  WIRELESS ;    Or,  The 

Dot,  Dash  and  Dare  Cruise. 

5  THE    MOTOR    BOAT    CLUB    IN    FLORIDA;     Or,    Laying  the 

Ghost  of  Alligator   Swamp. 

6  THE  MOTOR  BOAT  CLUB  AT  THE  GOLDEN  GATE ;    Or,  A 

Thrilling  Capture  in  the  Great  Fog. 

7  THE  MOTOR  BOAT   CLUB   ON  THE  GREAT  LAKES;    Or. 

The  Flying  Dutchman  of  the  Big  Fresh  Water. 

Qoth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 


The  Range  and  Grange  Hustlers 

By  FRANK  GEE  PATCHIN 

Have  you  any  idea  of  the  excitements,  the  glories  of  life  on  great 
ranches  in  the'  West?  Any  bright  boy  will  "devour"  the  books  of 
this  series,  once  he  has  made  a  start  with  the  first  volume. 

1  THE  RANGE  AND  GRANGE  HUSTLERS  ON  THE  RANCH; 

Or,  The  Boy  Shepherds  of  the  Great  Divide. 

2  THE  RANGE  AND  GRANGE  HUSTLERS'  GREATEST 

ROUND-UP;     Or,    Pitting    Their    Wits    Against    a    Packers* 
Combine. 

S     THE  RANGE  AND  GRANGE  HUSTLERS  ON  THE  PLAINS; 
Or,  Following  the   Steam  Plows  Across  the  Prairie. 

4    THE    RANGE    AND    GRANGE    HUSTLERS    AT    CHICAGO; 
Or,  The  Conspiracy  of  the  Wheat  Pit. 

Qoth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,   soo. 


High    School    Boys    Series 

By  H.  IRVING  HANCOCK 

In  this  series  of  bright,  crisp  books  a  new  note  has  be«u  struck 
Boys  of  every  age  under  sixty  will  be  interested  in  these  fascinat- 
ing volumes. 
I     THE    HIGH    SCHOOL   FRESHMEN;     Or,    Dick   &   Co.'s   First 

Year  Pranks  and  Sports. 
3     THE    HIGH    SCHOOL    PITCHER;     Or,    Dick    &    Co.    on    th« 
Gridley  Diamond. 

3  THE  HIGH  SCHOOL  LEFT  END ;    Or,  Dick  &  Co.  Grilling  o« 

the  Football  Gridiron. 

4  THE  HIGH  SCHOOL  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  TEAM;    Or,  Dick  & 

Co.  Leading  the  Athletic  Vanguard. 

Cloth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 

Grammar    School    Boys    Series 

By  H.  IRVING  HANCOCK 

This  series  of  stories,  based  on  the'  actual  doings  of  grammar 
school  boys,  comes  near  to  the  heart  of  the  average  American  boy. 

1  THE   GRAMMAR   SCHOOL   BOYS    OF   GRIDLEY;    Or,   Dick 

&  Co.  Start  Things  Moving. 

2  THE   GRAMMAR   SCHOOL  BOYS   SNOWBOUND;    Or,  Dick 

&  Co.  at  Winter  Sports. 

3  THE_  GRAMMAR    SCHOOL    BOYS    IN    THE   WOODS;     Or, 

Dick  &  Co.  Trail   Fun  and  Knowledge. 

4  THE  GRAMMAR  SCHOOL  BOYS  IN  SUMMER  ATHLETICS; 

Or,   Dick  &  Co.   Make  Their  Fame  Secure. 

Cloth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 

High  School  Boys'  Vacation  Series 

By  H.  IRVING  HANCOCK 

"Give  us  more  Dick  Prescott  books  !" 

This  has  been  the  burden  of  the  cry  from  young  readers  of  the 
country  over.  Almost  numberless  letters  have  been  received  by  the 
publishers,  making  this  eager  demand  ;  for  Dick  Prescott,  Dave  Dar- 
rin,  Tom  Reade,  and  the  other  members  of  Dick  &  Co.  are  the  most 
popular  high  school  boys  in  the  land.  Boys  will  alternately  thrill 
and  chuckle  when  reading  these  splendid  narratives. 

1  THE  HIGH  SCHOOL  BOYS'  CANOE  CLUB;    Or,  Dick  &  Co.'s 

Rivals  on  Lake  Pleasant. 

2  THEHIGH   SCHOOL  BOYS  IN   SUMMER   CAMP;     Or,   The 

Dick  Prescott  Six  Training  for  the   Gridley  Eleven. 

3  THE  HIGH  SCHOOL  BOYS'  FISHING  TRIP;    Or,  Dick  &  Co. 

in  the  Wilderness. 

4  THE  HIGH  SCHOOL  BOYS'  TRAINING  HIKE;    Or,  Dick  & 

Co.  Making  Themselves  "Hard  as  Nails." 

Goth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,   50c. 


Submarine    Boys    Series 

By  VICTOR  G.  DURHAM 

1  THE   SUBMARINE   BOYS   ON  DUTY;   Or,   Life  on  a  Diving  Torpedo 

Boat. 

2  THE    SUBMARINE    BOYS'    TRIAL    TRIP;    Or,    "Making    Good"    as 

Young  Experts. 

3  THE  SUBMARINE  BOYS  AND  THE  MIDDIES;  Or,  The  Prize  Detail 

at  Annapolis. 

4  THE  SUBMARINE  BOYS  AND  THE  SPIES;  Or,  Dodging  the  Sharks 

of  the  Deep. 

5  THE    SUBMARINE    BOYS'    LIGHTNING    CRUISE;    Or,    The    Young 

Kings  of  the  Deep. 

6  THE  SUBMARINE  BOYS  FOR  THE  FLAG;  Or.  Deeding  Their  Lives 

to  Uncle  Sam. 

7  THE  SUBMARINE  BOYS  AND  THE  SMUGGLERS;  Or,  Breaking  Up 

the  New  Jersey  Customs  Frauds. 


The  Square  Dollar  Boys  Series 

By  H.  IRVING  HANCOCK 

1  THE  SQUARE  DOLLAR  BOYS  WAKE  UP;  Or,  Fighting  the  Trolley 

Franchise  Steal. 

2  THE  SQUARE  DOLLAR  BOYS  SMASH  THE  RING;  Or,  In  the  Lists 

Against  the  Crooked  Land  Deal. 


The   College   Girls   Series 

By  JESSIE  GRAHAM  FLOWER,  A.M. 

1  GRACE  HARLOWE'S  FIRST  YEAR  AT  OVERTON  COLLEGE. 

2  GRACE  HARLOWE'S  SECOND  YEAR  AT  OVERTON  COLLEGE. 

3  GRACE  HARLOWE'S  THIRD  YEAR  AT  OVERTON  COLLEGE. 

4  GRACE  HARLOWE'S  FOURTH  YEAR  AT  OVERTON  COLLEGE. 

5  GRACE  HARLOWE'S  RETURN  TO  OVERTON  CAMPUS. 


Dave    Darrin    Series 

By  H.  IRVING  HANCOCK 

1    DAVE    DARRIN    AT    VERA    CRUZ;    Or,    Fighting    With    the    U.    S. 
Navy  in  Mexico. 


All  these  books  are  bound  in  Cloth  and  will  be  sent  post- 
paid on  receipt  of  only  50  cents  each. 


est     Point     Series 

By  H.  IRVING  HANCOCK 

The    principal    characters    in    these    narratives    are   manly,    young 
Americans  whose  doings  will  inspire  all  boy  readers, 
i     DICK  PRESCOTT'S   FIRST  YEAR  AT   WEST   POINT;    Or, 
Two  Chums  in  the  Cadet  Gray. 

2  DICK  PRESCOTT'S  SECOND  YEAR  AT  WEST  POINT;    Or, 

Finding  the  Glory  of  the  Soldier's  Life. 

3  DICK   PRESCOTT'S   THIRD  YEAR  AT  WEST   POINT;    Or, 

Standing  Firm  for  Flag  and  Honor. 

4  DICK  PRESCOTT'S  FOURTH  YEAR  AT  WEST  POINT;    Or. 

Ready  to  Drop  the  Gray  for  Shoulder  Straps. 

Cloth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 


n  n  a  p  o  1  i  s      Series 

By  H.  IRVING  HANCOCK 

The  Spirit  of  the  new  Navy  is  delightfully  and  truthfully  depicted 
in  these  volumes. 

1  DAVE  DARRIN'S  FIRST  YEAR  AT  ANNAPOLIS;    Or,  Two 

Plebe  Midshipmen  at  the  U.  S.  Naval  Academy. 

2  DAVE    DARRIN'S    SECOND    YEAR    AT    ANNAPOLIS;     Or, 

Two  Midshipmen  as  Naval  Academy  'Youngsters." 

3  DAVE  DARRIN'S  THIRD  YEAR  AT  ANNAPOLIS;    Or,  Lead- 

ers of  the  Second  Class  Midshipmen. 

4  DAVE  DARRIN'S  FOURTH  YEAR  AT  ANNAPOLIS;  Or, 

Headed  for  Graduation  and  the  Big  Cruise. 

Cloth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 


The  Young  Engineers  Series 

By  H.  IRVING  HANCOCK 

The  heroes  of  these  stories  are  known  to  readers  of  the  High 
School  Boys  Series.  In  this  new  series  Tom  Reade  and  Harry 
Hazelton  prove  worthy  of  all  the  traditions  of  Dick  &  Co. 

1  THE  YOUNG  ENGINEERS  IN  COLORADO;    Or,  At  Railroad 

Building  in  Earnest. 

2  THE  YOUNG  ENGINEERS  IN  ARIZONA:    Or.  Laying  Tracks 

on  the  "Man-Killer"  Quicksand 

3  THE  YOUNG  ENGINEERS  IN  NEVADA;    Or,  Seeking  tor- 

tune  on  the  Turn  of  a  Pick. 

4  THE   YOUNG   ENGINEERS   IN   MEXICO;     Or,   Fighting  the 

Mine  Swindlers. 

Goth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 


Pony    Rider    Boys   Series 

By  FRANK  GEE  PATCHIN 

These  tales  may  be  aptly  described  the  best  books  for  boys  and   girls. 

1  THE  PONY  RIDER  BOYS  IN  THE  ROCKIES;  Or,  The  Secret  of  the 
Lost  Claim.— 2  THE  PONY  RIDER  BOYS  IN  TEXAS;  Or,  The 
Veiled  Riddle  of  the  Plains.— 3  THE  PONY  RIDER  BOYS  IN 
MONTANA;  Or,  The  Mystery  of  the  Old  Custer  Trail.— 4  THE 
PONY  RIDER  BOYS  IN  THE  OZARKS;  Or,  The  Secret  of  Ruby 
Mountain.— 5  THE  PONY  RIDER  BOYS  IN  THE  ALKALI;  Or. 
Finding  a  Key  to  the  Desert  Maze.— 6  THE  PONY  RIDER  BOYS 
IN  NEW  MEXICO;  Or,  The  End  of  the  Silver  Trail.— 7  THE  PONY 
RIDER  BOYS  IN  THE  GRAND  CANYON;  Or,  The  Mystery  o! 
Bright  Angel  Gulch. 

Cloth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 


The  Boys  of  Steel  Series 

By  JAMES  R.  MEARS 

Each  book  presents  vivid  picture  of  this  great  industry.     Each  story 
is  full   of  adventure  and  fascination. 

1  THE  IRON  BOYS  IN  THE  MINES;  Or,  Starting  at  the  Bottom  ot 
the  Shaft.— 2  THE  IRON  BOYS  AS  FOREMEN;  Or,  Heading  the 
Diamond  Drill  Shift.— 3  THE  IRON  BOYS  ON  THE  ORE  BOATS: 
Or,  Roughing  It  on  the  Great  Lakes.— 4  THE  IRON  BOYS  IN  THB 
STEEL  MILLS;    Or,   Beginning  Anew  in  the  Cinder  Pits. 

Cloth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 


The  Madge  Morton  Books 

By  AMY  D.  V.  CHALMERS 

1  MADGE  MORTON— CAPTAIN  OP  THE  MERRY  MAID. 

2  MADGE  MORTON'S  SECRET. 
S  MADGE  MORTON'S  TRUST. 

4  MADGE  MORTON'S  VICTORY. 

Cloth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 


Boys   of   the   Army    Series 

By  H.  IRVING  HANCOCK 

These  books  breathe  the  life  and  spirit  of  the  United  States  Army 
of  to-day,  and  the  life,  just  as  it  is,  is  described  by  a  master  pen. 
i     UNCLE  SAM'S  BOYS  IN  THE  RANKS;    Or,  Two  Recruits  in 
the  United  States  Army. 

2  UNCLE  SAM'S  BOYS  ON  FIELD  DUTY;    Or,  Winning  Cor- 

poral's Chevrons. 

3  UNCLE  SAM'S  BOYS  AS  SERGEANTS ;    Or,  Handling  Their 

First  Real  Commands. 

4  UNCLE  SAM'S   BOYS  IN  THE  PHILIPPINES;    Or,  Follow- 

ing the  Flag  Against  the  Moros. 

(Other  voharcs  to  follow  rapidly.) 

Cloth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 


Battleship   Boys    Series 

By  FRANK  GEE  PATCHIN 

These  stories  throb  with  the  life  of  young  Americans  on  to-day's 
huge  drab  Dreadnaughts. 

1  THE  BATTLESHIP  BOYS  AT  SEA;    Or,  Two  Apprentices  in 

Uncle  Sam's  Navy. 

2  THE    BATTLESHIP    BOYS     FIRST    STEP    UPWARD;     Or, 

Winning  Their  Grades  as  Petty  Officers. 

3  THE    BATTLESHIP    BOYS     IN    FOREIGN     SERVICE;     Or, 

Earning   New   Ratings  in  European   Seas. 

4  THE   BATTLESHIP   BOYS   IN   THE  TROPICS;    Or,  Uphold- 

ing the  American  Flag  in  a  Honduras  Revolution. 
(Other  volumes  to  follow  rapidly.) 

Cloth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 


The  Meadow-Brook  Girls  Series 

By  JANET  ALDRIDGE 

Real  live  stories  pulsing  with  the  vibrant  atmosphere;  of  outdoor 
life. 

1  THE   MEADOW-BROOK   GIRLS  UNDER   CANVAS. 

2  THE   MEADOW-BROOK   GIRLS   ACROSS    COUNTRY. 

3  THE    MEADOW-BROOK    GIRLS   AFLOAT. 

4  THE   MEADOW-BROOK  GIRLS   IN   THE   HILLS. 

5  THE   MEADOW-BROOK   GIRLS   BY   THE   SEA. 

6  THE   MEADOW-BROOK   GIRLS   ON   THE  TENNIS   COURTS. 

Cloth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 


The   Circus   Boys  Series 

By  EDGAR  B.  P.  DARLINGTON 

Mr.  Darlington's  books  breathe  forth  every  phase  of  an  intensely 
interesting  and  exciting  life. 

i  THE  CIRCUS  BOYS  ON  THE  FLYING  RINGS;  Or,  Making 
the  Start  in  the  Sawdust  Life. 

z  THE  CIRCUS  BOYS  ACROSS  THE  CONTINENT;  Or,  Win- 
ning New  Laurels  on  the  Tanbark. 

3  THE    CIRCUS    BOYS    IN    DIXIE    LAND;     Or,    Winning    the 

Plaudits  of  the   Sunny   South. 

4  THE  CIRCUS  BOYS  ON  THE  MISSISSIPPI;    Or,  Afloat  with 

the  Big  Show  on  the  Big   River. 

Goth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 

The   High  School  Girls   Series 

By  JESSIE  GRAHAM  FLOWER,  A.  M. 

These1  breezy  stories  of  the  American  High  School  Girl  take  the 
reader  fairly  by  storm. 

1  GRACE    HARLOWE'S    PLEBE   YEAR    AT    HIGH    SCHOOL; 

Or,  The  Merry  Doincs  of  the  Oakdale  Freshman  Girls. 

2  GRACE      HARLOWE'S      SOPHOMORE      YEAR      AT      HIGH 

SCHOOL;    Or,  The  Record  of  the  Girl  Chums  in  Work  and 
Athletics. 

3  GRACE   HARLOWE'S   JUNIOR   YEAR   AT   HIGH    SCHOOL; 

Or,  Fast  Friends  in  the  Sororities. 

4  GRACE   HARLOWE'S   SENIOR  YEAR  AT   HIGH   SCHOOL; 

Or,  The  Parting  of  the  Ways. 

Cloth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 


The    Automobile    Girls    Series 

By  LAURA  DENT  CRANE 

No  girl's  library — no  family  book-case  can  be'  considered  at  all 
complete  unless  it  contains  these  sparkling  twentieth-century  books. 
1  THE  AUTOMOBILE  GIRT  "•  AT  NEWPORT;  Or,  Watching  the  Sum- 
mer Parade.— 2  THE  ALTOMOBILE  GIRLS  IN  THE  BERKSHIRES; 
Or,  The  Ghost  of  Lost  Man's  Trail.— 3  THE  AUTOMOBILE  GIRLS 
ALONG  THE  HUDSON;  Or,  Fighting  Fire  in  Sleepy  Hollow.— 
4  THE  AUTOMOBILE  GIRLS  AT  CHICAGO;  Or,  Winning  Out 
.Against  Heavy  Odds.— 5  THE  AUTOMOBILE  GIRLS  AT  PALM 
feEACH;  Or,  Proving  Their  Mettle  Under  Southern  Skies-— 6  TH> 
AUTOMOBILE  GIRLS  AT  WASHINGTON;  Or,  Checkmating  tlic 
Plots  of  Foreign  Spies. 

Cloth,  Illustrated  Price,  per  Volume,  50c. 


COVER  BOOK  SYSTEM 


